Wrench vs. Spanner — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 8, 2024
Wrench is commonly used in American English to describe tools for gripping and turning objects, while spanner is the term used in British English.
Difference Between Wrench and Spanner
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
In American English, the term "wrench" refers to a hand tool used for gripping, fastening, turning, tightening, or loosening objects such as nuts and bolts. Conversely, in British English, the same types of tools are generally referred to as "spanners." The word "spanner" encompasses the same range of tools that Americans call wrenches, including those designed for specific uses, such as the open-end spanner, ring spanner, and combination spanner.
Despite the difference in terminology, wrenches and spanners serve the same fundamental purposes in mechanical and assembly work. The choice between "wrench" and "spanner" largely depends on the regional dialect of English being spoken. Manufacturers and users in the United States prefer "wrench," while those in the United Kingdom and many other Commonwealth countries use "spanner."
The interchangeability of these terms does not change the tools' function or design but reflects the linguistic variations across English-speaking countries. Whether called a wrench or a spanner, these tools are essential for a wide range of tasks in automotive repair, plumbing, machinery maintenance, and DIY projects.
Understanding the context in which these terms are used can help avoid confusion when discussing tools or mechanical tasks across different English-speaking regions. Both wrenches and spanners are vital to tradespeople, mechanics, and hobbyists worldwide, providing the necessary leverage and grip to work with various fasteners and fittings.
Comparison Chart
Definition
A hand tool for gripping and turning nuts, bolts, and other objects.
A hand tool for gripping and turning nuts, bolts, and other objects.
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Varieties
Adjustable, combination, socket wrenches, etc.
Open-end, ring, combination spanners, etc.
Usage
Preferred in the United States.
Preferred in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth countries.
Purpose
Gripping, fastening, turning, tightening, loosening objects.
Gripping, fastening, turning, tightening, loosening objects.
Construction
Often made of metal with a handle and gripping end.
Often made of metal with a handle and gripping end.
Compare with Definitions
Wrench
Can be adjusted to fit different sizes of nuts and bolts.
The adjustable wrench has become a staple in his tool kit.
Spanner
A British term for a tool used in gripping and turning objects.
She needed a ring spanner to tighten the connection.
Wrench
A tool used for gripping and turning nuts, bolts, or other objects.
He used an adjustable wrench to loosen the bolt.
Spanner
Crafted from materials that withstand heavy use.
His collection includes spanners made from high-quality steel.
Wrench
Often made of durable materials like steel.
His trusty steel wrench has lasted for years.
Spanner
A must-have for plumbing and construction work.
The plumber used a large spanner to fix the pipe leak.
Wrench
Comes in various types for specific applications.
A socket wrench is ideal for hard-to-reach fasteners.
Spanner
Various designs cater to specific tasks.
The open-end spanner is useful for a variety of nut sizes.
Wrench
Essential in automotive and machinery maintenance.
Changing a car's oil often requires a wrench for the drain plug.
Spanner
Adjustable models can fit a range of sizes.
An adjustable spanner is versatile for many DIY projects.
Wrench
Any of various hand or power tools, often having fixed or adjustable jaws, used for gripping, turning, or twisting objects such as nuts, bolts, or pipes, typically at an angle perpendicular to the object's axis.
Spanner
A wrench having a hook, hole, or pin at the end for meshing with a related device on another object.
Wrench
A wrench or spanner is a tool used to provide grip and mechanical advantage in applying torque to turn objects—usually rotary fasteners, such as nuts and bolts—or keep them from turning. In the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand spanner is the standard term.
Spanner
Chiefly British A wrench.
Wrench
A sudden, forcible twist, turn, or pull
Gave the steering wheel a wrench.
Spanner
A hand tool for adjusting nuts and bolts; a wrench.
Pass me that spanner, Jake; there's just one more nut to screw in.
Wrench
An injury produced by twisting or straining
The fall gave my ankle a wrench.
Spanner
(rare) One who, or that which, spans.
Wrench
A sudden feeling of compassion, sorrow, or anguish, or an act that causes such feeling
"Bidding goodbye to Buss was a wrench" (Edna O'Brien).
Spanner
(weaponry) A hand tool shaped like a small crank handle, for winding the spring of a wheel lock on a musket.
Wrench
A distortion in the original form or meaning of something written or spoken; a twisted interpretation.
Spanner
(obsolete) A device in early steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.
Wrench
To twist, turn, or pull suddenly and forcibly
Wrenched the door open.
Spanner
(UK) A problem, dilemma or obstacle; something unexpected or troublesome (in the phrase 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.
Wrench
To twist and sprain
I wrenched my knee.
Spanner
A stupid or unintelligent person; one prone to making mistakes, especially in language.
You spanner, Rodney! I wanted some time, not a bunch of thyme!
Wrench
To turn using a wrench
Wrenched the nut onto the bolt.
Spanner
To use a spanner; to fix with a spanner
Wrench
To move, extract, or force free by twisting, turning, or pulling forcibly
Wrenched the nail out of the board.
Spanner
One who, or that which, spans.
Wrench
To free (oneself or a body part) by twisting, turning, or pulling
Wrenched his arm from the thug's grasp.
Spanner
The lock of a fusee or carbine; also, the fusee or carbine itself.
Wrench
To upset the feelings or emotions of; distress
Grief wrenched her heart.
Spanner
An iron instrument having a jaw to fit a nut or the head of a bolt, and used as a lever to turn it with; a wrench; specifically, a wrench for unscrewing or tightening the couplings of hose.
Wrench
To interpret unreasonably or inaccurately; distort
Wrenched the text to prove her point.
Spanner
A contrivance in some of the earlier steam engines for moving the valves for the alternate admission and shutting off of the steam.
Wrench
To give a twist, turn, or pull
Wrenched at the window trying to open it.
Spanner
A hand tool that is used to hold or twist a nut or bolt
Wrench
To cause distress
The memory wrenched at his conscience.
Wrench
A movement that twists or pulls violently; a tug.
Wrench
An injury caused by a violent twisting or pulling of a limb; strain, sprain.
Wrench
(obsolete) A trick or artifice.
Wrench
(obsolete) Deceit; guile; treachery.
Wrench
(obsolete) A turn at an acute angle.
Wrench
(archaic) A winch or windlass.
Wrench
(obsolete) A screw.
Wrench
A distorting change from the original meaning.
Wrench
(US) A hand tool for making rotational adjustments, such as fitting nuts and bolts, or fitting pipes; a spanner.
Wrench
(UK) An adjustable spanner used by plumbers.
Wrench
A violent emotional change caused by separation.
Wrench
(physics) In screw theory, a screw assembled from force and torque vectors arising from application of Newton's laws to a rigid body.
Wrench
(obsolete) means; contrivance
Wrench
In coursing, the act of bringing the hare round at less than a right angle, worth half a point in the recognised code of points for judging.
Wrench
(transitive) To pull or twist violently.
With a surge of adrenaline, she wrenched the car door off and pulled out the injured man.
Wrench
(transitive) To injure (a joint) by pulling or twisting.
Be careful not to wrench your ankle walking along those loose stones!
Wrench
(transitive) To distort the original meaning of; to misrepresent.
Wrench
(transitive) To rack with pain; to be hurt or distressed.
Wrench
(transitive) To deprive by means of a violent pull or twist.
Wrench
(transitive) To use a wrench; to twist with a wrench.
The plumber wrenched the pipes until they came loose.
Wrench
To violently move in a turn or writhe.
Wrench
To tighten with or as if with a winch.
Wrench
To thrust a weapon in a twisting motion.
Wrench
To disarm an opponent by whirling his or her blade away.
Wrench
Trick; deceit; fraud; stratagem.
His wily wrenches thou ne mayst not flee.
Wrench
A violent twist, or a pull with twisting.
He wringeth them such a wrench.
The injurious effect upon biographic literature of all such wrenches to the truth, is diffused everywhere.
Wrench
A sprain; an injury by twisting, as in a joint.
Wrench
Means; contrivance.
Wrench
An instrument, often a simple bar or lever with jaws or an angular orifice either at the end or between the ends, for exerting a twisting strain, as in turning bolts, nuts, screw taps, etc.; a screw key. Many wrenches have adjustable jaws for grasping nuts, etc., of different sizes.
Wrench
The system made up of a force and a couple of forces in a plane perpendicular to that force. Any number of forces acting at any points upon a rigid body may be compounded so as to be equivalent to a wrench.
Wrench
To pull with a twist; to wrest, twist, or force by violence.
Wrench his sword from him.
Forthwith this frame of mine was wrenchedWith a woeful agony.
Wrench
To strain; to sprain; hence, to distort; to pervert.
You wrenched your foot against a stone.
Wrench
A sharp strain on muscles or ligaments;
The wrench to his knee occurred as he fell
He was sidelined with a hamstring pull
Wrench
A jerky pulling movement
Wrench
A hand tool that is used to hold or twist a nut or bolt
Wrench
Twist or pull violently or suddenly, especially so as to remove (something) from that to which it is attached or from where it originates;
Wrench a window off its hinges
Wrench oneself free from somebody's grip
A deep sigh was wrenched from his chest
Wrench
Make a sudden twisting motion
Wrench
Twist and compress, as if in pain or anguish;
Wring one's hand
Wrench
Twist suddenly so as to sprain;
Wrench one's ankle
The wrestler twisted his shoulder
The hikers sprained their ankles when they fell
I turned my ankle and couldn't walk for several days
Common Curiosities
Is an adjustable wrench the same as an adjustable spanner?
Yes, they are the same tool, differing only in regional naming conventions.
Why do Americans use "wrench" and British use "spanner"?
The difference arises from historical linguistic variations between American and British English.
Can wrenches and spanners be used interchangeably?
Yes, in terms of function, they can be used interchangeably, though the term used may depend on the region.
What is the main difference between a wrench and a spanner?
The main difference is regional terminology: "wrench" is used in American English, while "spanner" is used in British English.
Are there any tasks where a wrench is preferred over a spanner, or vice versa?
Preference is based on regional language use rather than the task at hand; functionality remains the same.
How do I know which term to use when buying tools in a foreign country?
It's helpful to know the local terminology, but describing the tool's function can also guide you to the right product.
Are there any design differences between wrenches and spanners?
No, design differences are not based on the term but on the tool's specific type and intended use.
Do all mechanics understand both terms?
Most mechanics, especially those experienced or trained in international contexts, are likely familiar with both terms.
Do the terms "wrench" and "spanner" appear in international standards?
International standards might use one term or both, often with a note explaining that they are equivalent.
Can either tool be made from materials other than metal?
While metal is standard for durability and strength, some specialized wrenches/spanners might use other materials for specific applications.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
