whereas

American  

[hwair-, wair-az] / ʰwɛər-, wɛərˈæz /

conjunction

1. while on the contrary.

   One arrived promptly, whereas the others hung back.

2. it being the case that, or considering that (used especially in formal preambles).

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noun

• whereases
  plural

1. a qualifying or introductory statement, especially one having “whereas” as the first word.

   to read the whereases in the will.

whereas British  

/ wɛərˈæz /

conjunction

1. (coordinating) but on the other hand

   I like to go swimming whereas Sheila likes to sail

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1. (in formal documents to begin sentences) it being the case that; since

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• whereases
  plural

Etymology

Origin of whereas

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English wheras; equivalent to where + as ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

whereas whereases

Bottom line: An individual with significant assets can still qualify for financial assistance, whereas someone with low personal income might receive little to no subsidy if their household falls into a higher income bracket.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026

“My commitment to the community had only been a year … whereas they had invested so much and lost so much.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

For the UK, more than 90% of the Sun was covered by the Moon, whereas in some parts of Europe, a rare total eclipse could be seen.

From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026

So, whereas, on day one, the PLC shares were over 30% of the market cap, in 2026, they represented around 10%.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Sean was always at ease with himself, whereas I couldn’t quite figure out how to get out of my own way.

From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan

A frivolous, meaningless declaration filled with whereases and therefores to pretend our boys in blue were winners?

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2020

Chairman Pittman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee drafted an eloquent joint resolution with many whereases describing the brutality of the Spanish conflict, the danger of its dragging the U. S. into war. etc., etc.

From Time Magazine Archive

After four resonant whereases, the resolution reached the two sore spots.

From Time Magazine Archive

However, after they get through with their whereases they face the music squarely, and certify to “the condition of general and complete peace.”

From The American Occupation of the Philippines 1898-1912 by James H. Blount

There were a great many "herebys" and "whereases" and "agreements" in it.

From The Girl from Montana by Grace Livingston Hill