ENGLISH
REFERENCE

spiderman

n. countable
B1 Intermediate US //ˈspaɪdɝmæn// spi·der·man Informal Slang

n. a person who climbs high buildings or structures without using safety equipment. It is a casual name for someone who acts like the famous comic book hero.

n. a person who scales the exterior of tall buildings or structures, typically without authorization or safety harnesses. Often used as a nickname or descriptive label for urban climbers.


SIMPLE

The local spiderman climbed the skyscraper in under an hour.

CONTEXTUAL

Police arrested the self-styled spiderman after he reached the roof of the city's tallest hotel.

COMPLEX

While some view the urban spiderman as a reckless thrill-seeker, others admire the physical discipline required to navigate sheer glass facades without any mechanical assistance.

Usage

Often used as a common noun in news reports to describe urban climbers; when referring to the fictional character, it is a proper noun and must be capitalized.

© 2026 English Reference