spinster

Universal Words noun (old-fashioned, often disapproving) a woman who is not married, especially an older woman who is not likely to marry: The sisters were to remain spinsters for the rest of their lives. HELPNOTE This word should not now be used to mean simply a woman who is not married. compareBACHELOR spinsterhood noun [U]: For most women, marriage used to bring a higher status than spinsterhood.