spinster

[ spin-ster ]

noun

1. Disparaging and Offensive. a woman still unmarried beyond the usual age of marrying.
2. Chiefly Law. a woman who has never married.
3. a woman whose occupation is spinning.

spinster

/ ˈspɪnstə /

noun

1. an unmarried woman regarded as being beyond the age of marriage
2. law (in legal documents) a woman who has never married Compare feme sole
3. (formerly) a woman who spins thread for her living

Sensitive Note

The meaning “a woman beyond the usual marriageable age” is used with disparaging intent and perceived as insulting. It implies negative qualities such as being fussy or undesirable. old maid.

Derived Forms

• ˈspinsterish, adjective
• ˈspinsterˌhood, noun

Other Words From

• spinster·hood noun
• spinster·ish adjective
• spinster·ish·ly adverb
• spinster·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of spinster¹

1325–75; Middle English spinnestere a woman who spins. See spin, -ster

Word History and Origins

Origin of spinster¹

C14 (in the sense: a person, esp a woman, whose occupation is spinning; C17: a woman still unmarried): from spin + -ster

Example Sentences

Since this is a rom-com, what Renée Zellweger’s Bridget fears most is becoming a spinster whose greatest relationship is with a bottle of wine.

From Time

According to STD life coach Belize Spivey, having herpes doesn’t mean you’re destined to live as a spinster.

From Essence.com

Ass-kicking, bad guy-killing Carter is just a future spinster.

From The Daily Beast

She is the last generation of spinster-daughters expected to stay home and look after her parents.

From The Daily Beast

There were, though, other loves that belied the appearance of a desiccated, workaholic spinster.

From The Daily Beast

Deep they needed to be, because the Nazis could take offense quicker than a prudish Victorian spinster.

From The Daily Beast

How does one manage to make a gorgeous, youthful and lithe woman like Kate look like this elderly spinster?

From The Daily Beast

The spinster was startled out of her calm and a look of concern spread over her face.

From Project Gutenberg

A spinster who was a poor relation was the only person of respectable breeding who ever came near them.

From Project Gutenberg

The little spinster turned round quite fluttered, with both her fat little hands extended.

From Project Gutenberg

"I never can get used to the name of Ancram instead of Algernon," said the spinster, raising her round red face from her woolwork.

From Project Gutenberg

This sounds harsh, but nobody minds Salemina, least of all Francesca, who well knows that she is the apple of that spinster's eye.

From Project Gutenberg