In law, a 'spinster' refers to an unmarried woman who had reached her majority. This was, in part, to reinforce the right to own property outside of marriage.

A single woman who is old enough to be married but isn't—and isn't likely to get married—is sometimes called a spinster. The word has an old-fashioned and dated feel to it, and because …

Apr 30, 2025 · “Spinster” is a historically loaded term for an unmarried woman, once used widely but now often considered outdated or even offensive. Its connotations have shifted over time, …

Mar 26, 2025 · The term "spinster" originated from women spinning yarn, often unmarried for economic reasons. By the 18th century, it became a legal label for unmarried women, …

Jul 29, 2025 · A spinster was simply a woman who spun thread or yarn — a common occupation that could be done from home, no expensive looms needed.

SPINSTER definition: 1. a woman who is not married, especially a woman who is no longer young and seems unlikely ever to…. Learn more.

There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun spinster, one of which is considered derogatory. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

Legal documents from the 1600s onwards began to use “spinster” as a legal designation for an unmarried woman, regardless of whether she actually spun for a living. An entry might read, …

A spinster is a woman who has never been married; used especially when talking about an old or middle-aged woman.

Dec 14, 2025 · spinster (plural spinsters) (sometimes derogatory) A woman who has never been married, especially one past the typical marrying age according to social traditions.