noun
spanner
SPAN-uh
Spanner (noun) means a hand tool used to grip and turn nuts and bolts (called a "wrench" in American English). Example: “He reached for the spanner to tighten the bolt.”
noun
1
A hand tool used to grip and turn nuts and bolts (called a "wrench" in American English).
"Pass me that spanner, Jake; there's just one more bolt to screw in."
"He reached for the spanner to tighten the bolt."
"Tools don’t have judgment or ethics, and they might fail to push back on bad ideas or dangerous requests. “Your spanner’s never like, ‘This shouldn’t be built,’” she said, using a British term for wrench."
— Kashmir Hill, Why Do A.I. Chatbots Use ‘I’? (2025)
2
An unexpected problem or obstacle, especially in the phrase "a spanner in the works."
"Halfway through the production of Macbeth, the director found that the stage was smaller than he expected. This really threw a spanner in the works."
"The delayed shipment threw a spanner in the works for the launch."
How to use spanner
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA tool for turning nuts and bolts; British English word for what Americans call a "wrench."
UK vs US
British English uses "spanner"; American English uses "wrench" for the same tool.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
adjustable spanner
throw a spanner in the works
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Word forms
- Plural
- spanners
- Third person singular
- spanners
- Past tense
- spannered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He reached for the _____ to tighten the bolt.
Etymology
From "span" plus the agent suffix "-er" — literally, a thing that spans or grips something.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for spanner
See all rhymes for spanner →Frequently asked questions
What does “spanner” mean?
The word “spanner” means a hand tool used to grip and turn nuts and bolts (called a "wrench" in American English). In plain terms, a tool for turning nuts and bolts; British English word for what Americans call a "wrench.".
How do you pronounce “spanner”?
“Spanner” is pronounced SPAN-uh (/ˈspæn.ɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “spanner” in a sentence?
Here is “spanner” used in a sentence: “He reached for the spanner to tighten the bolt.”
What is another word for “spanner”?
Words with a similar meaning to “spanner” include wrench.
What part of speech is “spanner”?
“Spanner” is a noun.
How many meanings does “spanner” have?
“Spanner” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hand tool used to grip and turn nuts and bolts (called a "wrench" in American English).
