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Definition of wifebeater

wifebeater

/ˈwaɪfˌbiːtər/
wife · beat · er
Plural:wifebeaters
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wifebeater Lexical Profile

wifebeater Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

North American A sleeveless, form-fitting, ribbed cotton undershirt, typically white (slang).

Example

"He wore a plain white wifebeater underneath his unbuttoned flannel shirt while working in the garage."

2

A person who physically assaults or abuses their wife.

Example

"The court handed down a strict sentence after the defendant was convicted as a repeat offender and abuser."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for wifebeater

Word Nuance & Usage

When referring to a sleeveless undershirt, the term is informal slang that many speakers and retailers avoid in favor of neutral terms like 'A-shirt' or 'ribbed tank top' due to its association with domestic violence.

• Nearby Words

wiener neustadt
wiesbaden
wife
wifebeater
wifeless
wifely
wifey

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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