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spencer

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Spencer¹

  • /ˈspɛnsə/ UK
  • /ˈspɛnsɚ/ US

Rhymes with -ɛnsə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

An occupational surname from Middle English Spenser, Spencer, Spensier, from the common noun spenser (“spencer”), denoting someone who works in a spense (“spence”), or as a butler or steward.

proper noun Spencers · Spenser

  1. countable An English surname originating as an occupation. Other groups have different messages: the National Policy Institute, fronted by Richard Spencer and designed to “elevate the consciousness of whites”; the Occidental Quarterly, run by CMS member Kevin MacDonald and presenting itself as a scholarly journal; American Third Position, later rebranded as

    Similar: Spenser

  2. countable, uncountable A male given name transferred from the surname, of general 19th century and later usage. Later, a 'person of interest' was said to be in custody in connection with Kirk's shooting, Utah governor Spencer Cox announced Wednesday evening.
  3. countable, uncountable A female given name transferred from the surname, of modern usage.
  4. countable, uncountable A suburb of Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia; probably named for British politician George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer.
  5. countable, uncountable A hamlet in Clark County, Idaho.
  6. countable, uncountable A town, the county seat of Owen County, Indiana; named for Indiana militia officer Spier Spencer.
  7. countable, uncountable A city, the county seat of Clay County, Iowa.
  8. countable, uncountable A town in Worcester County, Massachusetts; named for Massachusetts governor Spencer Phips.
  9. countable, uncountable An unincorporated community in Missouri; named for a local merchant.
  10. countable, uncountable A village in Nebraska; perhaps named for Alabama statesman George E. Spencer.
  11. countable, uncountable A town and village in Tioga County, New York; named for New York statesman Ambrose Spencer.
  12. countable, uncountable A town in North Carolina; named for railroad executive Samuel Spencer.
  13. countable, uncountable A village in Ohio.
  14. countable, uncountable A city in Oklahoma County, Oklahoma.
  15. countable, uncountable A city in South Dakota; named for railroad official H. Spencer.
  16. countable, uncountable A town, the county seat of Van Buren County, Tennessee; named for longhunter Thomas Sharp Spencer.
  17. countable, uncountable An unincorporated community in Virginia; named for first settler James Spencer Jr.
  18. countable, uncountable A city, the county seat of Roane County, West Virginia.
  19. countable, uncountable A town and village in Wisconsin; named for the town in Massachusetts.
  20. countable, uncountable A number of townships in the United States, listed under Spencer Township.
  21. abbreviation, countable, ellipsis, uncountable Ellipsis of Spencer County
  22. countable, uncountable An English earldom.

spencer²

  • /ˈspɛnsə/ UK

Rhymes with -ɛnsə(ɹ)

Where it comes from

From the family name Spencer. The jacket is probably named after George Spencer, 2nd Earl Spencer (1758-1834).

noun spencers

  1. historical A short double-breasted men's overcoat worn in the 18th and 19th centuries.
  2. historical A short, close-fitting jacket primarily worn by women and children in the early 19th century. In order to support and illustrate this assertion, I shall commence my remarks with the spencer, which has often been attacked by satyrical and cynical writers as an absurd and original dress.
  3. historical A (usually woollen) vest worn by women and girls for extra warmth. I am seized with an angry resentment against the conventions of twenty years ago, which wrapped up my comely adolescent body in woollen combinations, black cashmere stockings, “liberty” bodice, dark stockinette knickers, flannel petticoat and often, in addition, a long-sleeved, high-necked, knitted
  4. A large loose-fitted gaffsail on a square-rigger or barque, used from the nineteenth century onwards.

Thesaurus

Closest in meaning: spenser, hey, pluto, spence, truman, jerkin, blazer, jacket, bolero, shrug, waistcoat, vest, surcoat, tunic, cutaway, eton

Translations

Every language

name surnames derived from the equivalent of “spencer”

DeutschSpeiser
ΕλληνικάΟικονόμος Oikonómos

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MLA

"spencer." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/spencer. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026.

APA

spencer. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/spencer

Chicago

"spencer." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/spencer.

BibTeX
@misc{spencer_2026,
  title = {spencer},
  howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
  year = {2026},
  url = {https://micwyn.com/word/spencer},
  urldate = {2026-11-06}
}