noun
spaz
spaz
noun
1
An informal, often offensive term for a clumsy or awkward person.
"He laughed and called himself a spaz after tripping over the rug."
"Don't be such a spaz, just hand me the wrench."
verb
1
To lose composure suddenly, or to have a brief panic or excited outburst (often "spaz out").
"She spazzed out when she couldn't find her passport."
"He spazzed for a second when the fire alarm went off."
How to Use Spaz
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA casual (and historically offensive) word for someone acting clumsy or overexcited, or the verb for suddenly losing your cool.
When to use it
Because it derives from a term for a disability, many people consider "spaz" offensive or outdated, especially in British English; it's best avoided in formal or professional writing.
Common pairings
spaz out
total spaz
Word Forms
spazzed past tense, spazzes plural, spazzes singular
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Etymology
A shortening of "spastic," originally a medical term describing muscle spasms linked to conditions like cerebral palsy.