spinster: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowArchaic, formal, potentially pejorative. Generally avoided in modern neutral contexts due to its negative connotations.
Quick answer
What does “spinster” mean?
An unmarried woman, typically one beyond the usual age for marriage (often considered old-fashioned and potentially offensive).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An unmarried woman, typically one beyond the usual age for marriage (often considered old-fashioned and potentially offensive).
Historically, the term referred specifically to a woman whose occupation was spinning thread. It can also be used metaphorically to denote a person, especially a woman, who is perceived as prim, old-maidish, or set in their ways.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, though the legal term 'spinster' for an unmarried woman persisted longer in British official documents (e.g., marriage certificates) than in American ones.
Connotations
Strongly pejorative and old-fashioned in both dialects. May be used ironically or humorously. In modern legal/formal contexts, 'single' is the preferred term.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary speech. More likely found in historical novels, period dramas, or as a deliberate insult.
Grammar
How to Use “spinster” in a Sentence
be/live/die a spinsterthe spinster of [place, e.g., the village]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “spinster” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The parish register listed her status as 'spinster'.
- In the Victorian novel, the wealthy spinster inherited the estate.
American English
- The old-fashioned law referred to any unmarried woman as a spinster.
- She was stereotyped as the cat-loving spinster in the small town.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or gender studies contexts to discuss marital status, social history, or pejorative language.
Everyday
Avoided due to offensive potential. 'Single' is used.
Technical
May appear in archaic legal texts or historical genealogy.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “spinster”
- Using it as a neutral synonym for 'single woman'.
- Applying it to younger unmarried women.
- Assuming it is a complimentary or formal term.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, in modern usage it is generally considered offensive and archaic because it defines a woman solely by her marital status and carries connotations of being unwanted, old, and prim. The neutral term is 'single woman'.
No, the male equivalent is 'bachelor'. Unlike 'spinster', 'bachelor' does not traditionally carry the same strong negative or pitiful connotations, though this is changing.
It comes from the Middle English 'spinnestre', meaning 'a woman who spins', from 'spinnen' (to spin). It was a common occupation for unmarried women, and by the 17th century, it became a legal designation for an unmarried woman.
Use 'single woman', 'unmarried woman', or simply refer to her by her name or profession without referencing marital status. The term 'bachelorette' is informal and usually for younger women.
An unmarried woman, typically one beyond the usual age for marriage (often considered old-fashioned and potentially offensive).
Spinster is usually archaic, formal, potentially pejorative. generally avoided in modern neutral contexts due to its negative connotations. in register.
Spinster: in British English it is pronounced /ˈspɪnstə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈspɪnstər/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “On the shelf (idiom with similar meaning, implying unwanted or past marriageable age)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a SPINner who is a siSTER – the old-fashioned job for an unmarried woman.
Conceptual Metaphor
UNMARRIED STATUS IS A PROFESSION (now obsolete); UNMARRIED WOMAN IS UNDESIRABLE/UNPRODUCTIVE (source of pejorative sense).
Practice
Quiz
In which context would the word 'spinster' be MOST appropriate today?