Spinster
noun
An older woman who has never been married.
She lived her life as a spinster, devoted to her career and friends.
Often appears as...
- confirmed spinster
- die a spinster
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
In historical context, a woman who spins thread for a living.
In the 18th century, many spinsters worked in the textile industry.
Often appears as...
- spinster at the loom
- cottage spinster
noun
In legal context, a term used to mean a woman who is not married.
On the document, her status was identified as 'spinster'.
Often appears as...
- spinster of this parish
- spinster in law
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
noun
An older woman who has never been married.
She lived her life as a spinster, devoted to her career and friends.
Often appears as...
- confirmed spinster
- die a spinster
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
In historical context, a woman who spins thread for a living.
In the 18th century, many spinsters worked in the textile industry.
Often appears as...
- spinster at the loom
- cottage spinster
noun
In legal context, a term used to mean a woman who is not married.
On the document, her status was identified as 'spinster'.
Often appears as...
- spinster of this parish
- spinster in law
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Outdated Term
The term 'spinster' can sound old-fashioned and possibly offensive to modern ears.
Referring to someone as a spinster might seem disrespectful today.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotations
'Spinster' may imply a woman is lonely or missed out on marriage, which might not be true.
Calling her a spinster undermines her happy, single life.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Stereotyping
Be cautious not to stereotype or assume personality traits based on someone's marital status.
She is single but does not fit the spinster stereotype.
Pro Tip 1/3Outdated Term
The term 'spinster' can sound old-fashioned and possibly offensive to modern ears.
Referring to someone as a spinster might seem disrespectful today.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotations
'Spinster' may imply a woman is lonely or missed out on marriage, which might not be true.
Calling her a spinster undermines her happy, single life.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Stereotyping
Be cautious not to stereotype or assume personality traits based on someone's marital status.
She is single but does not fit the spinster stereotype.
Pro Tip 1/3Outdated Term
The term 'spinster' can sound old-fashioned and possibly offensive to modern ears.
Referring to someone as a spinster might seem disrespectful today.
Pro Tip 2/3Negative Connotations
'Spinster' may imply a woman is lonely or missed out on marriage, which might not be true.
Calling her a spinster undermines her happy, single life.
Pro Tip 3/3Avoid Stereotyping
Be cautious not to stereotype or assume personality traits based on someone's marital status.
She is single but does not fit the spinster stereotype.
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Video examples
James Robertson: The...
father's death by the time of the Civil War Lizzie was in her mid forties a small dowdy spinster with dotting blue eyes in seemingly nervous disposition she was a staunch unionist who refused to cooperate in any way with the
Video examples
Why should you read...
The starving orphan seeking a second helping of gruel. The spinster wasting away in her tattered wedding dress.
Video examples
James Robertson: The...
father's death by the time of the Civil War Lizzie was in her mid forties a small dowdy spinster with dotting blue eyes in seemingly nervous disposition she was a staunch unionist who refused to cooperate in any way with the
Video examples
Why should you read...
The starving orphan seeking a second helping of gruel. The spinster wasting away in her tattered wedding dress.
Example 1 of 2
Quote examples
Daniel Mallory Ortberg
American Writer
I think female solitude is a mental condition as well as a physical state. You can be married and a spinster. I think spinster is an identity every woman can claim, if she will... I feel like a lot of women, or a lot of feminists, joke about taking to the sea or living alone in a cottage as this kind of fun freedom.
Quote examples
Jerome Charyn
American Author
Emily Dickinson has haunted my life - her poems, her persona, all the tales about her solitude. Ever since I discovered her in the seventh grade, I've had a crush on that spinster in white, who had such a heroic and startling inner landscape of her own.
Quote examples
Sarah MacLean
American Author
There is perhaps no more rewarding romance heroine than she who is not expected to find love. The archetype comes in many disguises - the wallflower, the spinster, the governess, the single mom - but always with one sad claim: Love is not in her cards.
Quote examples
Jo Beverley
British Writer
When a gently born spinster has little money, her choices are few. She might receive an offer of marriage, but it's unlikely to be from a wealthy man, so she'll have a hard life trying to make ends meet for her growing family.
Quote examples
Laurie Graham
English Journalist
Not so very long ago, certainly well into the Thirties, a lady companion was a normal feature of life for widows or lone spinsters.
Quote examples
Juliana Hatfield
American Musician
At heart I am a librarian, a bird-watcher, a transcendentalist, a gardener, a spinster, a monk.
Quote examples
Patricia Routledge
English Actress
People have always pitied spinsters. We have been derided, as if we had missed out on life.
Quote examples
Daphne Guinness
British Artist
I know sometimes I can come off like a lonely spinster in a tower. That's not me at all.
Quote examples
Gemma Arterton
English Actress
I always thought I was going to end up an old spinster, with my cats and fur coats.
Quote examples
Ann Widdecombe
British Politician
I am toothy, dumpy, ugly, overweight, a spinster - what the hell?
Quote examples
Daniel Mallory Ortberg
American Writer
I think female solitude is a mental condition as well as a physical state. You can be married and a spinster. I think spinster is an identity every woman can claim, if she will... I feel like a lot of women, or a lot of feminists, joke about taking to the sea or living alone in a cottage as this kind of fun freedom.
Quote examples
Jerome Charyn
American Author
Emily Dickinson has haunted my life - her poems, her persona, all the tales about her solitude. Ever since I discovered her in the seventh grade, I've had a crush on that spinster in white, who had such a heroic and startling inner landscape of her own.
Quote examples
Sarah MacLean
American Author
There is perhaps no more rewarding romance heroine than she who is not expected to find love. The archetype comes in many disguises - the wallflower, the spinster, the governess, the single mom - but always with one sad claim: Love is not in her cards.
Quote examples
Jo Beverley
British Writer
When a gently born spinster has little money, her choices are few. She might receive an offer of marriage, but it's unlikely to be from a wealthy man, so she'll have a hard life trying to make ends meet for her growing family.
Quote examples
Laurie Graham
English Journalist
Not so very long ago, certainly well into the Thirties, a lady companion was a normal feature of life for widows or lone spinsters.
Quote examples
Juliana Hatfield
American Musician
At heart I am a librarian, a bird-watcher, a transcendentalist, a gardener, a spinster, a monk.
Quote examples
Patricia Routledge
English Actress
People have always pitied spinsters. We have been derided, as if we had missed out on life.
Quote examples
Daphne Guinness
British Artist
I know sometimes I can come off like a lonely spinster in a tower. That's not me at all.
Quote examples
Gemma Arterton
English Actress
I always thought I was going to end up an old spinster, with my cats and fur coats.
Quote examples
Ann Widdecombe
British Politician
I am toothy, dumpy, ugly, overweight, a spinster - what the hell?
Example 1 of 10
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