waif

noun
UK: /weɪf/
US: /weɪf/

  1. A child who is thin and looks uncared for, often homeless.

    1. The waif needed a warm place to sleep for the night.
    2. She played the part of a fragile waif, though she was quite strong.

  2. A person, especially a young woman, who is very thin and delicate-looking.

    1. The young waif looked lost and alone at the train station.
    2. Designers often use waif-like models to showcase their latest fashions.

Synonyms

urchin stray ragamuffin orphan

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "waif" in English means: A child who is thin and looks uncared for, often homeless., A person, especially a young woman, who is very thin and delicate-looking..

The phonetic transcription of "waif" is /weɪf/ in British English and /weɪf/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "waif": urchin, stray, ragamuffin, orphan.

Example usage of "waif": "The waif needed a warm place to sleep for the night.". More examples on the page.