waster

American  

[wey-ster] / ˈweɪ stər /

noun

1. a person or thing that wastes time, money, etc.

2. a piece of ceramic ware warped, cracked, or melted during firing.

3. a spendthrift or wastrel.

4. a destroyer.

   The Vandals were wasters of cities.

5. Chiefly British. wastrel.

---

waster British  

/ ˈweɪstə /

noun

1. a person or thing that wastes

2. a ne'er-do-well; wastrel

3. an article spoiled in manufacture

---

Etymology

Origin of waster

1300–50; Middle English < Anglo-French wastere, wastour ( -or ² ); later understood as waste + -er ¹

Example Sentences

The renewables biofuel factory was intended to produce sustainable aviation fuel and diesel from waster, but faced unfavourable market conditions.

From Barron's • Oct. 30, 2025

And it doesn’t have to be another unending time waster or money pit project.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 3, 2023

For example, spongy bone tissue is found in the inner layer of bones and contains blood vessels to deliver nutrients and remove waster from bone cells.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

Keep in mind that we always find that the biggest money waster is failing to shop around; our undercover price shoppers routinely find cost differences in the thousands for the same projects.

From Washington Post • Oct. 12, 2021

The ranch was still a hang-out for every waster in the country.

From The Land of Strong Men by Chisholm, A. M. (Arthur Murray)