SPAM

What Does SPAM Mean in a Text?

The Quick Answer

SPAM means "unsolicited messages," "game play or activities detrimental to the game," and "Spiced Ham" (or "Special Processed American Meat").

Unsolicited Messages

SPAM is widely used as a slang word to refer to unsolicited messages. SPAM messages are usually sent for commercial purposes or to facilitate fraud, such as PHISHING. SPAM comes in many forms, including text messages, emails, posts in blogs and chat forums, and even in comments or "likes" on social-media posts. Here is an example of SPAM used in a conversation:

Toni: You've got over 100 unread emails!
Jordan: Yeah, I've stopped reading my emails. They're 99% SPAM now.

Gameplay or Activities Detrimental to the Game

In gaming, SPAM also refers to an unskilled form of play, in which the player keeps their finger on the trigger and achieves kills by spraying bullets rather than through skill. Such activities are considered detrimental to the game. For example:

Sam: Stop constantly blasting away at everything! That's SPAM, and it's really annoying.
Jo: You're just a sore loser.

Spiced Ham / Special Processed American Meat

The term SPAM actually comes from the name of a brand of canned meat produced by Hormel Foods Corporation based in Austin, Minnesota (US). The name was derived from a contraction of the words "spiced" and "ham." SPAM canned meat gained worldwide popularity after World War II. In the UK, it was mistakenly treated as an acronym for "Special Processed American Meat," and it is even used a derogatory term for an American person.

Cuthbert: That joke just wasn't funny, Brad.
Rupert: Forgive Brad, Cuthbert. He's a SPAM.

In 1970, the UK comedy group Monty Python produced a sketch about a restaurant that served SPAM in every dish. It is thought that this sketch inspired the use of the word SPAM to apply to unsolicited messages. As with SPAM in the sketch, such messages are ubiquitous and repetitive.

Monty Python SPAM

Image for SPAM

When I write SPAM, I mean this:

In gaming, SPAM means to play in a way detrimental to the game. It is also an abbreviation for "Spiced Ham" (or "Special Processed American Meat").

Summary of Key Points

First Definition of SPAM

"Unsolicited Messages" is, by far, the most common meaning for SPAM when it is used in a text. (Bear in mind that it could have another meaning if used in a different context.)

SPAM
Definition:	Unsolicited Messages
Type:	Slang Word
Guessability:	2: Quite easy to guess
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Second Definition of SPAM

In gaming, "Gameplay or Activities Detrimental to the Game" is a common definition for SPAM.

SPAM
Definition:	Gameplay or Activities Detrimental to the Game
Type:	Slang Word
Guessability:	3: Guessable
Typical Users:	Adults and Teenagers

Third Definition of SPAM

The original definition for SPAM was "Spiced Ham" (aka "Special Processed American Meat").

SPAM
Definition:	Spiced Ham (Special Processed American Meat)
Type:	Portmanteaux word ("Spiced Ham") or abbreviation ("Special Processed American Meat")
Guessability:	4: Difficult to guess
Typical Users:	Adults

An Academic Look at SPAM

SPAM is a portmanteau word (i.e., a word made up of two other words). It is formed from the words spiced and ham. When it means "Unsolicited Messages," SPAM is a slang word. (NB: Slang refers to highly informal words and phrases whose use is often restricted to a special context or a particular group of users.)