Whereas
adv, conj, noun ·Common ·High school level
Definitions
- 1 A clause, as in legal documents, stating whereas.
"[…]the promise is stated after a whereas, though the promise is the very gist of the action, yet, such a count so framed, will be held good on demurrer."
- 1 Where (that). not-comparable, obsolete
"And home she came, whereas her mother blynd / Sate in eternall night […]"
- 1 In contrast; whilst on the contrary; although.
"He came first in the race, whereas his brother came last."
- 2 It being the fact that; inasmuch as. (Often used to begin recitals; sometimes emboldened or emphasized as a signifier.)
"And Whereas it hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in Congress, to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union."
Example
More examples"In a town you may pass unnoticed, whereas in a village it's impossible."
Etymology
From where + as (“that”); first attested in the meaning of "where" in the 14th century. Compare thereas.
Related phrases
More for "whereas"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.