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Definition of waifish

waifish

/ˈweɪf.ɪʃ/
wai · fish
Adverb:waifishly
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waifish Lexical Profile

waifish Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Resembling a waif; appearing fragile, slender, undernourished, and vulnerable.

Example

"The fashion magazine featured a young model with a delicate, waifish frame and large, expressive eyes."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Nearby Words

wahoo
waiau
waif
waifish
waihilau
waihou
waikato

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in English from 'waif' (from Anglo-French 'waif', meaning an unclaimed or stray item, probably of Scandinavian origin) combined with the suffix '-ish'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Waifish. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/waifish
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