spoiler

B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Technology

n. a part on a car or an airplane designed to change how air moves around it to improve speed or control.

n. an aerodynamic device intended to modify air flow, typically to reduce lift and increase drag on aircraft or increase downforce on high-performance vehicles.

“The sports car has a large spoiler on the back to help it stay stable at high speeds.”

“During the descent, the pilot deployed the spoilers to increase drag and manage the aircraft's airspeed more effectively.”

C1 · Advanced Countable noun Sports American English

n. a person or team that cannot win but prevents another person or team from winning.

n. a candidate or competitor who has no realistic chance of winning but whose presence in the race draws enough votes or points away from a front-runner to cause their defeat.

“The third-party candidate acted as a spoiler in the election, causing the main favorite to lose.”

“Political analysts argued that the independent candidate served as a spoiler, siphoning off critical votes in swing states and handing the victory to the opposition.”

B2 · Upper Intermediate Slang

v. to tell someone the ending of a story or show before they have seen it.

v. to disclose the resolution or key plot developments of a narrative to someone who has not yet experienced it.

“Stop talking about the finale because you are going to spoiler it for everyone else.”

“Social media users often use specific tags to ensure they do not accidentally spoiler the latest episode for international fans in different time zones.”