What does spandex mean?
Spandex is a synthetic elastic fiber made from polyurethane and valued for its ability to stretch greatly and return to its original shape. It is commonly added to clothing such as leggings, shorts, swimwear, hosiery, and athletic garments, either alone or in combination with materials such as cotton, nylon, or polyester. The term is chiefly used in American English, whereas British and European usage more often prefers elastane for the same fiber. Although often described as a fabric, spandex strictly refers to the elastic fiber itself; the fabric containing it may include other fibers as well. Its introduction transformed the fit and flexibility of everyday clothing and athletic wear, allowing garments to move with the wearer while retaining their shape.
nounA synthetic elastic fiber made from polyurethane, used in clothing and other stretchable fabrics to make them flexible and resilient.
- The elastic synthetic fiber itself, or a fabric made from or containing this fiber.
"She wore black spandex leggings for the workout."
"The dancer’s costume combined spandex with lightweight mesh."
"A small amount of spandex gives cotton clothing greater stretch and shape retention."
Rare; spandex is ordinarily used as an uncountable mass noun.
"The shop sells colorful spandexes for dance and exercise."
Spandex stretches to many times its original length and then returns to its original shape, making it one of modern clothing’s most useful synthetic fibers.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does spandex come from?
Spandex was developed by the DuPont company in the late 1950s as a highly stretchable synthetic fiber. The name was coined from “expandable,” referring to the material’s capacity to extend. It belongs to the same modern word family as expand, expansion, and expansive, although its specific application arose from the development of polyurethane fibers.
How spandex is actually used
Spandex is usually treated as a mass noun and is common in American English. British and European usage more often calls the material elastane. As a modifier, it is normally spelled spandex, as in “spandex shorts.”
Easily confused with spandex
Spandex and elastane generally refer to the same synthetic elastic fiber, but spandex is the common name in the United States while elastane is preferred in British and European usage.