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 mum has an arm round the girl’s waist.
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
Participants were handed a faixa—a long sash to wrap around their waists to protect their spines and give climbers a toehold.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 14, 2026
They climbed onto the roof where they stayed until dawn, the water lapping at their waists, until a neighbor in a row boat finally reached them.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2025
The bumps push out candy-striped and aproned gowns; they are exaggerated by belted waists, and one particularly protuberant tummy doubles as a perch for a parakeet.
From Slate ● Jul. 21, 2025
It has numerous pockets to keep things organized and fits waists up to 55 inches.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2025
Two police officers in dark green uniforms with brown batons and steel guns holstered at their waists sauntered into the marble foyer.
From "Amal Unbound" by Aisha Saeed
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
