waist
Americannoun
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waists
plural
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the part of the body in humans between the ribs and the hips, usually the narrowest part of the torso.
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the part of a garment covering this part of the body.
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the part of a one-piece garment covering the body from the neck or shoulders more or less to the waistline, especially this part of a woman's or child's garment.
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a child's undergarment to which other articles of apparel may be attached.
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the part of an object, especially a central or middle part, that resembles or is analogous to the human waist.
the waist of a violin.
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Nautical. the central part of a ship; that part of the deck between the forecastle and the quarterdeck.
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the constricted portion of the abdomen of certain insects, as a wasp.
noun
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anatomy the constricted part of the trunk between the ribs and hips
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the part of a garment covering the waist
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the middle part of an object that resembles the waist in narrowness or position
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the middle part of a ship
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Also called: centre section. the middle section of an aircraft fuselage
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the constriction between the thorax and abdomen in wasps and similar insects
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of waist
1300–50; Middle English wast, apocopated variant of wastum, Old English wæstm growth, form, figure; akin to wax 2
Explanation
On a human, the waist is the narrowing between the ribs and the hips –- though for many of us, "narrowing" may actually be "expanding." Waist can also refer to the part of a piece of clothing that covers the waist — like the waist (or waistline) of a dress or a jacket. Most likely you know these most common definitions of waist, but did you know that a waist can also be the narrow part of a shoe, or of a violin? Don’t confuse the definition of waist with waste, though the words have the same pronunciation.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
By the end of the study, children who consumed more ultra-processed foods generally had higher BMI, greater body fat percentage, and larger waist circumference.
From Science Daily ● Nov. 4, 2026
Oxygen entered these suits through ports on the waist and exited through the helmet.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
In the third room, he finds people sipping coffee while waist deep in excrement.
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2026
A 2024 review found that intermittent fasting may be associated with small reductions in waist circumference and fat mass in people who are overweight or obese.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
Her dark hair, now out of its usual buns or braids, was longer than he’d thought it would be, to her waist.
From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny
Rice recalls the washboard abs of the ’90s; the athletic build of the early 2000s; the quest, in the 2010s, for tiny waists and huge biceps.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 16, 2026
Other noteworthy pieces included dresses with spherical birdcage-inspired silhouettes, while other models wore transparent vest tops with their dresses gathered around their waists.
From Barron's ● Jan. 26, 2026
Indeed, the collection taps into 1950s-era silhouettes and trends: slim pencil skirts, double-breasted jackets and nipped-in waists.
From Salon ● Nov. 9, 2025
A group of girls wearing white T-shirts and with keffiyehs tied around their waists perform a dance and then take part in a group therapy session.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2025
These women have dresses with puffed sleeves and full skirts, and white aprons that tie very tightly around their waists.
From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood
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