The Rice University Neologisms Database

unwanted or unsolicited messages or email sent to a person over the internet ('spam slows the internet down') My roommate had not checked his email mailbox for several days, and when he checked it, it was full of dozens and dozens of random emails from people he didn't even know. These messages ranged anywhere from 'buying a credit card' messages to 'Stop smoking in 5 easy steps' messages. Anything and everything you could think of to sell or solicit, you could find in 'spam' email. This word probably comes from the previously newly formed word 'spam' as in the food 'spiced ham.' Many people claim spam (the food) to be nasty or an acquired taste at best; I believe the unwanted or 'nasty' email term arose from this.