THE WORDCRAFT DEFINITION DICTIONARY
spinster
noun
An old-fashioned term for an unmarried woman, often carrying a disparaging implication.
Local English device voice, when available. This is not a recorded dictionary pronunciation.
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Usage note
A dated and often disparaging label. In the historical marital-status questions here it means a woman who has not married, rather than a widow or divorced woman. Use neutral, specific wording in modern description.
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The archive used spinster as a historical marital-status label.
The editor explained why spinster may sound disparaging in modern description.
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This entry is part of the vocabulary collection supplied by GlobalRPh. Definitions are concise study meanings. Examples combine original teaching sentences with selected passages adapted from the supplied study notes; their source is labeled beside each example. A word may have additional specialized or historical senses.
Term requested in the October 5, 2026 supplied word list. Definition, alternatives and examples authored for WordCraft; WordNet senses and targeted dictionary checks inform the lexical review.
Source study sections: October 2026 additions.
A dated and often disparaging label. In the historical marital-status questions here it means a woman who has not married, rather than a widow or divorced woman. Use neutral, specific wording in modern description.
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