Stain vs. Spot: What's the Difference?
By Harlon Moss & Janet White || Updated on May 22, 2024
A stain is a discoloration that penetrates and often permanently alters a surface, while a spot is a small, typically temporary mark or area of discoloration.
Key Differences
A stain typically refers to a discoloration that is more permanent and harder to remove. Stains often penetrate the surface they are on, such as fabric, wood, or concrete, and can result from substances like wine, coffee, or ink. On the other hand, a spot is generally a smaller and less permanent mark. Spots are often surface-level and can result from minor spills or contact with dirt. They are typically easier to clean and may not require special treatment, often being removable with basic cleaning methods.
Stains tend to be associated with more significant damage or alteration to the material, sometimes causing a lasting impact. For example, a stain on a piece of clothing might change the fabric's color permanently. In contrast, a spot might simply be a temporary blemish that can be washed away without any lasting effects.
While stains and spots both refer to marks or discolorations, stains imply a deeper, more ingrained problem that is often more difficult to address, whereas spots are seen as minor, superficial issues that are usually easier to resolve.
Comparison Chart
Definition
Discoloration that penetrates the surface
Small, temporary mark on the surface
Permanence
Often permanent
Usually temporary
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Cleaning Difficulty
Harder to remove
Easier to remove
Common Causes
Wine, coffee, ink
Dirt, minor spills
Impact on Material
Can alter material color or texture
Typically no lasting impact
Stain and Spot Definitions
Stain
A discoloration that penetrates a surface.
The red wine left a stain on the white carpet.
Spot
A minor mark or blemish.
The mirror had a spot of dirt on it.
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Stain
A tarnish on someone's reputation.
The scandal was a stain on his political career.
Spot
A place or location.
This is a great spot for a picnic.
Stain
To discolor, soil, or spot
The spilled juice stained the carpet.
Spot
An immediate or exact place or time.
She was asked to give a speech on the spot.
Stain
To bring into disrepute; taint or tarnish
The scandal stained the mayor's reputation.
Spot
A mark on a surface differing sharply in color from its surroundings.
Stain
To change the color of (a piece of wood, for example) by applying a stain.
Spot
A blemish, mark, or pimple on the skin.
Stain
To treat (a specimen for the microscope) with a reagent or dye in order to identify cell or tissue structures or microorganisms.
Spot
A stain or blot.
Stain
To produce or receive discolorations
Upholstery that stains easily.
Spot
A mark or pip on a playing card; a spade, club, diamond, or heart.
Stain
A discolored or soiled spot or smudge
A stain that was difficult to scrub out.
Spot
A playing card with a specified number of such marks on it indicating its value.
Stain
A diminishment of one's moral character or good reputation by being associated with something disgraceful.
Spot
(Informal) A piece of paper money worth a specified number of dollars
A five spot.
Stain
A liquid substance applied especially to wood that penetrates the surface and imparts a rich color.
Spot
A small area
A bald spot.
An itchy spot.
Stain
A reagent or dye used for staining microscopic specimens.
Spot
A location or position
A good spot for catching fish.
Stain
A discoloured spot or area.
Spot
A point of interest
There are a lot of spots to visit in the old city.
Stain
A blemish on one's character or reputation.
Spot
A position or an item in an ordered arrangement
The first spot in line.
Stain
A substance used to soak into a surface and colour it.
Spot
(Football) The position of the ball for the line of scrimmage as determined by a referee after a play.
Stain
A reagent or dye used to stain microscope specimens so as to make some structures visible.
Spot
(Informal) A situation, especially a troublesome one.
Stain
(heraldry) Any of a number of non-standard tinctures used in modern heraldry.
Spot
A flaw in one's reputation or character
A dark spot in his past.
Stain
(transitive) To discolour.
To stain the hand with dye
Armour stained with blood
Spot
A short presentation or commercial on television or radio between major programs
A news spot.
Stain
To taint or tarnish someone's character or reputation
Spot
(Informal) A spotlight.
Stain
To coat a surface with a stain
To stain wood with acids, coloured washes, paint rubbed in, etc.
The stained glass used for church windows
Spot
Pl. spot or spots A small croaker (Leiostomus xanthurus) of North American Atlantic waters, having a dark mark above each pectoral fin and valued as a food and game fish.
Stain
(intransitive) To become stained; to take a stain.
Spot
Chiefly British A small amount; a bit
A spot of tea.
Stain
To treat (a microscopic specimen) with a dye, especially one that dyes specific features
Spot
To soil with spots
Soot spotted the curtains.
Stain
To cause to seem inferior or soiled by comparison.
Spot
To decorate with spots; dot.
Stain
To discolor by the application of foreign matter; to make foul; to spot; as, to stain the hand with dye; armor stained with blood.
Spot
To bring disgrace to; besmirch
Rumors that spotted his reputation.
Stain
To color, as wood, glass, paper, cloth, or the like, by processes affecting, chemically or otherwise, the material itself; to tinge with a color or colors combining with, or penetrating, the substance; to dye; as, to stain wood with acids, colored washes, paint rubbed in, etc.; to stain glass.
Spot
To place in a particular location; situate precisely
Spotted their stores in smaller towns.
Stain
To spot with guilt or infamy; to bring reproach on; to blot; to soil; to tarnish.
Of honor void,Of innocence, of faith, of purity,Our wonted ornaments now soiled and stained.
Spot
(Football) To position (the ball) determining the line of scrimmage after a play has been completed.
Stain
To cause to seem inferior or soiled by comparison.
She stains the ripest virgins of her age.
That did all other beasts in beauty stain.
Spot
To detect or discern, especially visually; spy
Spotted him on the subway.
Stain
To give or receive a stain; to grow dim.
Spot
To remove spots from, as in a laundry.
Stain
A discoloration by foreign matter; a spot; as, a stain on a garment or cloth.
Spot
(Sports) To yield a favorable scoring margin to
Spotted their opponents 11 points.
Stain
A natural spot of a color different from the gound.
Swift trouts, diversified with crimson stains.
Spot
(Sports) To act as a spotter for (a gymnast, for example).
Stain
Taint of guilt; tarnish; disgrace; reproach.
Nor death itself can wholly wash their stains.
Our opinion . . . is, I trust, without any blemish or stain of heresy.
Spot
(Informal) To lend
Can you spot me $25 until payday?.
Stain
Cause of reproach; shame.
Spot
To become marked with spots
These dishes spot easily.
Stain
A tincture; a tinge.
You have some stain of soldier in you.
Spot
To cause a discoloration or make a stain.
Stain
A soiled or discolored appearance;
The wine left a dark stain
Spot
To locate targets from the air during combat or training missions.
Stain
(microscopy) a dye or other coloring material that is used in microscopy to make structures visible
Spot
Made, paid, or delivered immediately
A spot sale.
Stain
The state of being covered with unclean things
Spot
Of, relating to, or being a market in which payment or delivery is immediate
The spot market in oil.
Stain
A symbol of disgrace or infamy;
And the Lord set a mark upon Cain
Spot
Involving random or selective instances or actions
A spot investigation.
Stain
An act that brings discredit to the person who does it;
He made a huge blot on his copybook
Spot
Presented between major radio or television programs
A spot announcement.
Stain
Color with a liquid dye or tint;
Stain this table a beautiful walnut color
People knew how to stain glass a beautiful blue in the middle ages
Spot
A round or irregular patch on the surface of a thing having a different color, texture etc. and generally round in shape.
The leopard is noted for the spots of color in its fur.
Why do ladybugs have spots?
Stain
Produce or leave stains;
Red wine stains the table cloth
Spot
A stain or disfiguring mark.
I have tried everything, and I can’t get this spot out.
Stain
Make dirty or spotty, as by exposure to air; also used metaphorically;
The silver was tarnished by the long exposure to the air
Her reputation was sullied after the affair with a married man
Spot
A pimple, papule or pustule.
That morning, I saw that a spot had come up on my chin.
I think she's got chicken pox; she's covered in spots.
Stain
Color for microscopic study;
The laboratory worker dyed the specimen
Spot
A small, unspecified amount or quantity.
Do come 'round on Sunday for a spot of tea, won't you?
Stain
A mark that is difficult to remove.
The ink stain on his shirt wouldn't come out.
Spot
A bill of five-dollar or ten-dollar denomination in dollars.
Here's the twenty bucks I owe you, a ten spot and two five spots.
Stain
A spot or blemish that affects the appearance.
There was a stain on the wooden table from the spilled juice.
Spot
A location or area.
I like to eat lunch in a pleasant spot outside.
For our anniversary we went back to the same spot where we first met.
Stain
A lasting discoloration caused by various substances.
The coffee cup left a stain on the paperwork.
Spot
A parking space.
Spot
(sports) An official determination of placement.
The fans were very unhappy with the referee's spot of the ball.
Spot
A bright lamp; a spotlight.
Spot
A brief advertisement or program segment on television.
Did you see the spot on the news about the shoelace factory?
Spot
A difficult situation.
She was in a real spot when she ran into her separated husband while on a date.
Spot
One who spots (supports or assists a maneuver, or is prepared to assist if safety dictates); a spotter.
Spot
(soccer) Penalty spot.
Spot
The act of spotting or noticing something.
You've misspelled "terrapin" here. —Whoops. Good spot.
Spot
A variety of the common domestic pigeon, so called from a spot on its head just above the beak.
Spot
A food fish (Leiostomus xanthurus) of the Atlantic coast of the United States, with a black spot behind the shoulders and fifteen oblique dark bars on the sides.
Spot
The southern redfish, or novern=1 (Sciaenops ocellatus), which has a spot on each side at the base of the tail.
Spot
Commodities, such as merchandise and cotton, sold for immediate delivery.
Spot
An autosoliton.
Spot
(finance) A decimal point; point.
Spot
Any of various points marked on the table, from which balls are played, in snooker, pool, billiards, etc.
Spot
Any of the balls marked with spots in the game of pool, which one player aims to pot, the other player taking the stripes.
Spot
(transitive) To see, find; to pick out, notice, locate, distinguish or identify.
Try to spot the differences between these two pictures.
Spot
(finance) To loan a small amount of money to someone.
I’ll spot you ten dollars for lunch.
Spot
(ambitransitive) To stain; to leave a spot (on).
Hard water will spot if it is left on a surface.
A garment spotted with mould
Spot
To remove, or attempt to remove, a stain.
I spotted the carpet where the child dropped spaghetti.
Spot
To retouch a photograph on film to remove minor flaws.
Spot
To support or assist a maneuver, or to be prepared to assist if safety dictates.
I can’t do a back handspring unless somebody spots me.
Spot
(dance) To keep the head and eyes pointing in a single direction while turning.
Most figure skaters do not spot their turns like dancers do.
Spot
To stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as reputation.
Spot
To cut or chip (timber) in preparation for hewing.
Spot
To place an object at a location indicated by a spot.
The referee had to spot the pink on the blue spot.
Spot
To position (an aircraft) on the deck of an aircraft carrier ready for launch by catapult.
Spot
To position (a locomotive or car) at a predetermined point, e.g., for loading or unloading.
Spot
Available on the spot; for immediate payment or delivery.
Spot wheat
Spot cash
A spot contract
Spot
A mark on a substance or body made by foreign matter; a blot; a place discolored.
Out, damned spot! Out, I say!
Spot
A stain on character or reputation; something that soils purity; disgrace; reproach; fault; blemish.
Yet Chloe, sure, was formed without a spot.
Spot
A small part of a different color from the main part, or from the ground upon which it is; as, the spots of a leopard; the spots on a playing card.
Spot
A small extent of space; a place; any particular place.
That spot to which I point is Paradise.
"A jolly place," said he, "in times of old!But something ails it now: the spot is cursed."
Spot
A variety of the common domestic pigeon, so called from a spot on its head just above its beak.
Spot
A sciænoid food fish (Liostomus xanthurus) of the Atlantic coast of the United States. It has a black spot behind the shoulders and fifteen oblique dark bars on the sides. Called also goody, Lafayette, masooka, and old wife.
Spot
Commodities, as merchandise and cotton, sold for immediate delivery.
Spot
To make visible marks upon with some foreign matter; to discolor in or with spots; to stain; to cover with spots or figures; as, to spot a garment; to spot paper.
Spot
To mark or note so as to insure recognition; to recognize; to detect; as, to spot a criminal.
Spot
To stain; to blemish; to taint; to disgrace; to tarnish, as reputation; to asperse.
My virgin life no spotted thoughts shall stain.
If ever I shall close these eyes but once,May I live spotted for my perjury.
Spot
To become stained with spots.
Spot
Lit., being on the spot, or place;
Spot
A point located with respect to surface features of some region;
This is a nice place for a picnic
Spot
A short section or illustration (as between radio or tv programs or in a magazine) that is often used for advertising
Spot
A blemish made by dirt;
He had a smudge on his cheek
Spot
A small contrasting part of something;
A bald spot
A leopard's spots
A patch of clouds
Patches of thin ice
A fleck of red
Spot
A section of an entertainment that is assigned to a specific performer or performance;
They changed his spot on the program
Spot
An outstanding characteristic;
His acting was one of the high points of the movie
Spot
A business establishment for entertainment;
Night spot
Spot
A job in an organization;
He occupied a post in the treasury
Spot
A slight attack of illness;
He has a touch of rheumatism
Spot
A small quantity;
A spot of tea
A bit of paper
Spot
A mark on a playing card (shape depending on the suit)
Spot
A lamp that produces a strong beam of light to illuminate a restricted area; used to focus attention of a stage performer
Spot
A playing card with a specified number of pips on it to indicate its value;
An eight spot
Spot
An act that brings discredit to the person who does it;
He made a huge blot on his copybook
Spot
Catch sight of
Spot
Mar or impair with a flaw;
Her face was blemished
Spot
Make a spot or mark onto;
The wine spotted the tablecloth
Spot
Become spotted;
This dress spots quickly
Spot
Mark with a spot or spots so as to allow easy recognition;
Spot the areas that one should clearly identify
Spot
A small, round mark differing in color or texture.
There was a spot of paint on her dress.
Spot
A small area showing a different color or condition.
He noticed a dark spot on the wall.
FAQs
Do spots require special cleaning agents?
Generally, no. Spots often can be cleaned with basic methods and household cleaners.
Can both stains and spots occur on any material?
Yes, both can occur on various materials, including fabrics, wood, and surfaces.
What is the primary difference between a stain and a spot?
A stain is usually a more permanent discoloration, while a spot is often temporary and easier to remove.
Can a spot become a stain?
Yes, if not treated promptly, a spot can set into the material and become a stain.
Are stains always permanent?
Not always, but they are typically harder to remove and may require special cleaning methods.
Why are stains harder to remove?
Stains penetrate the material, making them more ingrained and resistant to cleaning.
Do stains need professional cleaning?
Sometimes, especially for delicate materials or severe stains.
Are spots always small?
Typically, yes. Spots are usually small and localized.
Do stains always alter the texture of the material?
Not always, but they can sometimes change the texture, especially if caused by certain substances.
Can a spot be cleaned with just water?
Often, yes. Many spots can be removed with water and mild detergent.
Is it easier to prevent stains or spots?
Preventing spots is generally easier with regular cleaning and prompt action.
Is a stain considered more damaging than a spot?
Yes, because stains often penetrate deeper and can cause lasting discoloration.
Can a single incident cause both a stain and a spot?
Yes, depending on the substance and the surface, both can result from a single incident.
Are there specific products for removing stains but not spots?
Yes, there are specialized stain removers for tougher, set-in discolorations.
Is it possible to disguise a stain without removing it?
Yes, sometimes stains can be concealed with dyes or paint, though this doesn’t remove the stain.
Can both stains and spots be caused by food?
Yes, food can cause both stains and spots depending on the type and material affected.
Are stains visible immediately?
Usually, yes, although some may darken or become more apparent over time.
Can environmental factors influence the formation of stains and spots?
Yes, factors like humidity, temperature, and exposure to sunlight can affect both.
Can a stain be removed completely?
Sometimes, but some stains may leave a faint mark even after cleaning.
Are stains more common than spots?
It depends on the environment and material, but both are quite common.
About Author
Written by
Harlon MossHarlon is a seasoned quality moderator and accomplished content writer for Difference Wiki. An alumnus of the prestigious University of California, he earned his degree in Computer Science. Leveraging his academic background, Harlon brings a meticulous and informed perspective to his work, ensuring content accuracy and excellence.
Co-written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
