# spate

/ˈspeɪt/ (US) · /spˈeɪt/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/spate
Updated: 2026-05-26

## Definition

a sudden, large amount of something, especially something bad like complaints or accidents. It is often used to describe a period of time when many similar things happen at once.

For teachers: a sudden, large, and often unwelcome number of similar things. Frequently used in the context of negative events, complaints, or legal actions.

## Examples

- The company faced a spate of bad reviews after the new update.
- The local hospital was overwhelmed by a sudden spate of flu cases during the first week of winter.
- The politician's career was effectively ended by a spate of leaked emails that revealed a pattern of unethical behavior previously hidden from the public eye.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.