spare parts

Mechanic's reserve inventory

Spare parts are extra components kept on hand to replace broken or worn ones in machines, vehicles, or equipment.

The term implies readiness for repair: We keep spare parts for the tractor in the barn.

Figuratively, spare parts can mean someone left idle or purposeless: I felt like spare parts standing around at the party.

Opposites
functional status

spare partsworking parts

Functional internal components

OEM parts · original parts · original equipment

wholeness

spare partsfinished product

Completed manufactured good

condition/utility

spare partsscrap

Discarded bit or tussle

salvage · e-waste

Family

spare, parts, sparing, spared, unsparing, spares, sparingly, sparely, sparest

Familiarity
Top 50,000
Profile
Known to kids · Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Everyday, not technical · Rated G