wiggle room

American  

noun

1. room to maneuver; latitude.

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wiggle room British  

noun

1. informal scope for freedom of action or thought

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Etymology

Origin of wiggle room

First recorded in 1985–90

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wiggle room

They landed at annual tuition and fees of $26,800 a year—a number Glowienka calls “closer to reality”—because it still offers wiggle room for scholarships while being comparable to out-of-state public tuition.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

But sceptics have warned that financial constraints mean he will struggle to find wiggle room to fund bigger commitments.

From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026

Canada’s retaliatory tariffs aren’t set to take effect for another two weeks, leaving wiggle room for the two sides to reach a last-minute compromise.

From Slate ● Aug. 25, 2026

That doesn’t provide a lot of wiggle room to deal with emergencies like hurricanes or tornadoes, or with increased healthcare costs as you age.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 19, 2026

I know my mom; she’s got no wiggle room.

From "Liar, Liar" by Gary Paulsen

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