What is the difference between a "spoiler" and a "wing"?

 

There's only a difference if you're an aerodynamics geek... Common usage is sorta interchangeable.

A wing on an airplane makes lift. A spoiler on an airplane is some movable panel (like a control surface) that SPOILS the lift of the wing. Maybe it's a leading-edge that moves or maybe it's a panel on top that flips up. Whatever it is, when the airplane lands, the spoiler's job is to quickly cause the wing to STOP making lift as the plane is still rolling.

On a car, a spoiler can be a lip on the back that diverts air off the trunk lid. It doesn't have to be a separate piece that looks like a wing. It's not moveable, because you don't ever want the car to make aerodynamic lift. Usually, a spoiler isn't up off the surface of the car. Sometimes, it's just the lip shape formed right into the sheetmetal of the trunk.

If a wing on a car is way up in the air it doesn't exactly 'spoil' the lift of the car body, since the car still makes lift. It just creates downwards force to counter the lift. Not many cars have wings that are high enough to NOT influence the airflow over the trunk.

 

In my experience a wing is usually bright yellow, where a spiler is usually an aluminum with fake carbon fiber.

I like the previous guys answer too though.
-PHiZ

 

In my opinion a spoiler actually serves a purpose, downforce.....a wing is just for looks, course as said before theyre quite interchangable.