English · Word Candidate

spam

/ˈspæm/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: spams · spamming · spammed

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Any undesired electronic content automatically generated for commercial purposes.

Noun

Examples

An Act to provide for the control of spam, which is unsolicited commercial communications sent in bulk by electronic mail or by text or multi-media messaging to mobile telephone numbers, and to provide for matters connected therewith.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Excessive, often unwanted and repeated online messages.

Noun

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

To send spam (i.e. unsolicited electronic messages.)

Verb

Examples

Transformed by programming ineptitude into a monster of Frankenstein proportions, it broke loose on the night of March 31, 1993 and proceeded to spam news.admin.policy with something on the order of 200 messages in which it attempted, and failed, to cancel its own messages.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

To send spam (i.e. unsolicited electronic messages) to a person or entity.

Verb

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “spam” mean?

Any undesired electronic content automatically generated for commercial purposes.

Is “spam” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.