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
• wafflingly adverb
• waffly adjective

Etymology

Origin of waffle¹

First recorded in 1735–45; from Dutch wafel; 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

Be honest with yourself: Are you really going to use the dusty waffle maker in your kitchen cabinet?

From MarketWatch • Feb. 23, 2026

“His last delivery was Korean fried chicken: A whole chicken, kimchi fried rice and waffle fries,” Jackson says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 27, 2025

Don’t be shy about shape or size — shoestring, steak-cut, crinkle, waffle, sweet potato — I’ll even give a pass to tater tots for the sake of this exercise.

From Salon • Sep. 16, 2025

One time she made this savory waffle with rice, eggs, green onions and other stuff.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 21, 2025

Extra officers, he meant, because waffle day presented an enforcement challenge on the food line.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

• flip-flop
• vacillate