waffle

¹ American  

[wof-uhl] / ˈwɒf əl /

noun

1. a batter cake with a pattern of deep indentations on each side, formed by the gridlike design on each of the two hinged parts of the metal appliance waffle iron in which the cake is baked.

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adjective

1. Also waffled. having a gridlike or indented lattice shape or design.

   a waffle pattern.

waffle ² American  

[wof-uhl] / ˈwɒf əl /

verb (used without object)

waffled, waffling

1. to speak or write equivocally.

   to waffle on an important issue.

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verb (used with object)

waffled, waffling

1. to speak or write equivocally about.

   to waffle a campaign promise.

noun

1. waffling language.

waffle ³ American  

[wof-uhl] / ˈwɒf əl /

verb (used without object)

British.

waffled, waffling

1. to talk foolishly or without purpose; idle away time talking.

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waffle ¹ British  

/ ˈwɒfəl /

noun

1. 1. a crisp golden-brown pancake with deep indentations on both sides

   2. ( as modifier )

      waffle iron

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waffle ² British  

/ ˈwɒfəl /

verb

1. to speak or write in a vague and wordy manner

   he waffled on for hours

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noun

1. vague and wordy speech or writing

Other Word Forms

• waffler
  noun
• waffling
  adjective
• waffly
  adjective
• wafflingly
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of waffle¹

First recorded in 1735–45; from Dutch wafel; see also wafer ( def. )

Origin of waffle²

First recorded in 1890–95; originally dialect ( Scots, Northern England): “to wave about, flutter, waver, be hesitant”; probably waff + -le

Origin of waffle³

First recorded in 1865–70; originally dialect (Northern England); apparently waff “to bark, yelp” (imitative of the sound) + -le

Explanation

You might think of a waffle as a grid-patterned pancake-like food that's tasty with syrup, and you'd be right. But the word is also a verb that means to avoid making a definitive decision. The verb waffle seems to have its origins in the 1690s as the word waff, "to yelp," possibly in imitation of the yelping of dogs. The word soon came to mean "to talk foolishly" and then eventually "to vacillate, to change." The food term waffle, as part of "waffle iron," appeared in 1794, a descendant of the Dutch word wafel, which comes from the same Germanic source as weave: it's easy to see the waffle pattern as similar to a woven fabric.

Example Sentences

While the matches have dominated the headlines, social media has filled with videos and posts from fans documenting their first encounters with everything from Waffle House and Texas barbecue to Buc-ee’s and In-N-Out.

From Salon • Jun. 17, 2026

His first story for the Journal was about the 14-game winning streak achieved by the Atlanta Braves in 2013, which started immediately after a Waffle House opened in their home stadium.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 20, 2026

In a Waffle House off I-65 in south Nashville, she reads both exotic and at home.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 16, 2026

Any Waffle House fan will know what that means–and enthusiastically dig into this kit for whipping up breakfast for 12.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

A close-up of waffles drenched in chocolate syrup, because I always sneak chocolate syrup into Waffle House.

From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera

Related Words

• flip-flop
• vacillate