Word
spinster
Phoneticsspin·ster, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈspɪnstɝ/
UK/spˈɪnstɐ/
Countable noun
Definition
n. an older woman who has never been married. It is an old-fashioned word that is often used in a mean or negative way today.
n. an unmarried woman, typically one who is past the age at which marriage is considered likely. Frequently carries a derogatory or pejorative connotation in modern usage; avoid in formal or sensitive contexts.
Examples
“She was often called a spinster by her neighbors.”
“In nineteenth-century literature, the character of the spinster was often portrayed as a lonely figure living on the margins of her family.”
Examples
simple
“She was often called a spinster by her neighbors.”
contextual
“In nineteenth-century literature, the character of the spinster was often portrayed as a lonely figure living on the margins of her family.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “spinster” in context.
Verb
01. label as spinster
“Society was quick to label any unmarried woman over thirty as a spinster.”
verb + prep + noun
02. mock spinster
“The cruel comedy of the period often sought to mock the spinster for her lack of a husband.”
verb + noun
03. spinster resides
“The spinster resided alone in the ancestral home until her death.”
noun + verb
Adjective
04. confirmed spinster
“She was often described as a confirmed spinster, content with her independent life and books.”
adj + noun
05. elderly spinster
“The novel depicts the life of an elderly spinster living in a secluded Victorian cottage.”
adj + noun
06. embittered spinster
“Literature of that era frequently relied on the trope of the embittered spinster.”
adj + noun
07. lonely spinster
“The character was portrayed as a lonely spinster who spent her days feeding pigeons.”
adj + noun
Noun
08. caricature of spinster
“The actress refused to play a reductive caricature of a spinster.”
noun + prep + noun
09. life of spinster
“She resigned herself to the quiet, predictable life of a spinster.”
noun + prep + noun
10. die a spinster
“In those days, a woman who did not marry by twenty-five was expected to die a spinster.”
11. remain a spinster
“She chose to remain a spinster rather than enter a loveless marriage.”
12. the stereotypical spinster
“She defied the image of the stereotypical spinster by traveling the world solo.”
Usage
Often used as a derogatory label; the term 'single woman' is the neutral modern equivalent.
Real-World Examples
“Regarded in her time as "a reclusive spinster that never left her house", she was determined to be free to pursue a life of artistic expression.” “The cat lady stereotype is a spinster; a woman without a man, or shorthand for a lesbian.” “While we rarely call unmarried women spinsters now, a phrase has emerged to take its place: the crazy cat lady.” “While the continued use of "bachelor" demonstrates the opportunity presented by that word–an “eligible bachelor” can choose who to marry–"spinster" demonstrates how many opportunities were unavailable to unmarried women in the West.” Etymology
From Middle English spynnestere (“woman who spins fibre”), from c. 1350; equivalent to spin + -ster. The semantic development is from a historical notion of unmarried women spinning thread for a living.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
PHRASAL VERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C2 ProficiencyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.8.5–9.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 6.0114–120
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C2 · Proficiency
- Updated
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