whereas

[hwair-, wair-az]

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).

noun

plural

whereases 

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

   to read the whereases in the will.

whereas

/ wɛərˈæz /

conjunction

1. (coordinating) but on the other hand

   I like to go swimming whereas Sheila likes to sail

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of whereas¹

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

Example Sentences

Whereas some players would be unnerved by the big occasion Farrell, in contrast, thrives off his nerves.

Read more on BBC

Mr. Ciattarelli has committed not to raise any taxes, whereas Ms. Sherrill hasn’t ruled out a hike if she’s elected.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

He noted some 70% of September’s job gains came from oil-rich Alberta, whereas employment only edged up in Ontario and dipped in Quebec, two provinces that together represent more than 60% of Canadian gross domestic product.

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Whereas for the Incas the route was a way to impose order, for the Spanish it became a means of extracting resources—another common reason that geographic links are forged.

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“I have been so defined by when I was in the Spice Girls, which was only a four-year period in my life, whereas fashion I’ve been in for coming up to two decades.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times