What does "whiff" mean?
A brief, gentle breeze; a light gust of air; a waft.
Whiff
/(h)wɪf/ adj, intj, noun, verb, slang
adj, intj, noun, verb, slang ·Very common ·Middle school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A brief, gentle breeze; a light gust of air; a waft.
- Grammar: whiff is listed as adj, intj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: aroma, blast, blow, blow a hurricane.
- Useful contrasts: certainty, contact, explicitness.
- Usage evidence: He had a whiff at my fart and fanned it back to me.
How to use "whiff"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "whiff" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
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Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "whiff" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "whiff" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "whiff" is acting as adj, intj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
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3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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Definitions
Noun
- 1 A brief, gentle breeze; a light gust of air; a waft.
"Purrus at Pryam driues, but all in rage, / Strikes vvide, but vvith the vvhiffe and vvinde / Of his fell ſvvord, th'unnerued father falles."
- 2 a strikeout resulting from the batter swinging at and missing the ball for the third strike wordnet
- 3 A short inhalation or exhalation of breath, especially when accompanied by smoke from a cigarette or pipe.
"Sog[liardo]. […] [D]oe you profeſſe theſe ſleights in Tabacco? / […] / Shift. Yes as ſoone ſir; he ſhall receiue the 1, 2, and 3 VVhiffe, if it pleaſe him, & (vpon the receit) take his horſe, drinke his three cups of Canarie, and expoſe one at Hounſlovv, a ſecond at Stanes, and a third at Bagſhot."
- 4 a lefteye flounder found in coastal waters from New England to Brazil wordnet
- 5 A short inhalation or exhalation of breath, especially when accompanied by smoke from a cigarette or pipe.; A cigarette or small cigar. archaic, broadly
Show 14 more definitions
- 6 a short light gust of air wordnet
- 7 An odour (usually unpleasant) carried briefly through the air.
"And then, ſo nice, and ſo genteel; / Such Cleanlineſs from Head to Heel: / No Humours groſs, or frowzy Steams, / No noiſom Whiffs, or ſweaty Streams, / Before, behind, above, below, / Could from her taintleſs Body flow."
- 8 A small quantity of cloud, smoke, vapour, etc.; specifically (obsolete), chiefly in take the whiff: a puff of tobacco smoke.
"Shift. […] His cheef exerciſes are taking the VVhiffe, ſquiring a Cocatrice, and making priuie ſearches for Imparters."
- 9 A flag used as a signal.
"When the Indiaman was within a mile, the stranger threw out neutral colours, and hoisted a whiff, half-mast down, as a signal that she was in distress."
- 10 Any of a number of flatfish such as (dated) the lemon sole (Microstomus kitt) and now, especially, the megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis) and (with a descriptive word) a species of large-tooth flounder or sand flounder (family Paralichthyidae).
- 11 A slight sign of something; a burst, a glimpse, a hint. figuratively
"[I]t reflects to the diſrepute of our Miniſters […] that after all this light of the Goſpel vvhich is, and is to be, and all this continuall preaching, they ſhould be ſtill frequented vvith ſuch an unprincipl'd, unedify'd, and laick rabble, as that the vvhiffe of every nevv pamphlet ſhould ſtagger them out of thir catechiſm, and Chriſtian vvalking."
- 12 A slight attack or touch. figuratively
- 13 A characteristic quality of something; a flavour, a savour, a taste. figuratively
- 14 A sound like that of air passing through a small opening; a short or soft whistle. figuratively
"Nic. anſvver'd little to that, but immediately pull'd out a Boatſvvain's VVhistle; upon the firſt VVhiff, the Tradeſmen came jumping into the Room, […]"
- 15 A failure to hit a ball in various sports (for example, golf); a miss. US, figuratively, slang
- 16 A failure to hit a ball in various sports (for example, golf); a miss.; From the batter's perspective: a strike. US, figuratively, slang
- 17 An expulsion of explosive or shot. archaic
"Singular: in old Broglie's time, six years ago, this Whiff of Grapeshot was promised: but it could not be given then; could not have profited then."
- 18 An outrigged boat for one person propelled by oar.
- 19 A sip of an alcoholic beverage. obsolete
"Fly about vvhither thou vvilt, […] thou ſhalt no vvhere finde reſt for the ſoles of thy feet, but in this Arke of Chriſts perfect righteouſneſſe: In vaine ſhalt thou ſeeke it […] in beds of luſt, cheſts of Mammon, vvhiffes and draughts of intoxication, ſongs of ribaldry, ſports of recreation; […]"
Verb
- 1 To carry or convey (something) by, or as by, a whiff or puff of air; to blow, puff, or waft away. transitive
"There are in all but three vvayes of going thither [to the moon]. […] [The] third, Old Empedocles vvay; vvho vvhen he leaped into Ætna, having a drie ſeare bodie, and light, the ſmoake took him and vvhift him up into the Moone, vvhere he lives yet vvaving up and dovvne like a feather, all foot and embers comming out of that cole-pit; our Poet met him, and talkt vvith him."
- 2 utter with a puff of air wordnet
- 3 To say (something) with an exhalation of breath. transitive
"[H]e ſat ſolitary and penſive vvith his pipe—looking at his lame leg—then vvhiffing out a ſentimental heigh ho! vvhich mixing vvith the ſmoak, incommoded no one mortal."
- 4 smoke and exhale strongly wordnet
- 5 To inhale or exhale (smoke from tobacco, etc.) from a cigarette, pipe, or other smoking implement; to smoke (a cigarette, pipe, etc.); to puff. transitive
"VVhat pleaſure tak'ſt thou in that breath, vvhich dravvs & vvhiffs perpetuall fears?"
Show 16 more definitions
- 6 strike out by swinging and missing the pitch charged as the third wordnet
- 7 To breathe in or sniff (an odour); to smell. transitive
"Come, come, my deare, and let us both retire / And vvhiffe the dainties of the fragrant fields: […]"
- 8 drive or carry as if by a puff of air wordnet
- 9 To shoot (someone) with a firearm; hence, to assassinate or kill (someone). archaic, dated, slang, transitive
"Arms are the one thing needful: with arms we are an unconquerable man-defying National Guard; without arms, a rabble to be whiffed with grapeshot."
- 10 perceive by inhaling through the nose wordnet
- 11 Of a pitcher: to strike out (a batter); to fan. US, slang, transitive
- 12 To consume (an alcoholic beverage). obsolete, transitive
"Hee therefore that would ſtriue to faſhion his leggs to his ſilke ſtockins, and his proud gate to his broad garters, let him whiffe downe theſe obſeruations; […]"
- 13 To move in a way that causes a light gust of air, or a whistling sound. intransitive
- 14 To be carried, or move as if carried, by a puff of air; to waft. intransitive
"[…] I have sought to stay myself, in falling, against what looked to be a solid trunk, and the whole thing has whiffed away at my touch like a sheet of paper."
- 15 To smoke a cigarette, pipe, or other smoking implement. intransitive
"Morrow Captaine Tucca, vvill you vvhiffe this morning?"
- 16 To smell; to sniff. intransitive
- 17 To give off or have an unpleasant smell; to stink. intransitive, slang
"She [a dead cat]—is—there, gettin' ready to surprise 'em. Presently she'll begin to whisper to 'em in their dreams. Then she'll whiff. Golly, how she'll whiff!"
- 18 Especially in baseball or golf: to completely miss hitting a ball; hence (baseball), of a batter: to strike out; to fan. US, intransitive, slang
""Casey Bat". You can't help but swing this bat with all your might. There's a good chance that you may just whiff."
- 19 To fail spectacularly. broadly, intransitive, slang
"Or consider an alternative [imaginary] exhibit, in some side gallery, that sadly reflects on an enormous lost opportunity. […] This is a dark, dead end in the Biden library: A once mighty nation is served its toughest challenge yet, and it whiffs."
- 20 In fighting games, to execute a move that fails to hit the opponent. intransitive, slang
- 21 To catch fish by dragging a handline near the surface of the water from a moving boat. intransitive
Adjective
- 1 Having a strong or unpleasant odour. informal
"[F]rom under a pile of stones [they] drew forth the new-slain corpse of a cat. […] 'Well-nourished old lady, ain't she?' said Stalky. 'How long d'you suppose it'll take her to get a bit whiff in a confined space?' / 'Bit whiff! What a coarse brute you are!' said M'Turk. 'Can't a poor pussy-cat get under King's dormitory floor to die without your pursuin' her with your foul innuendoes?'"
Intj
- 1 Used to indicate a sound like that of air passing through a small opening, that is, a short or soft whistle.
"Sir Willoughby, […] made to this extraordinary remonstrance no other reply than a long whiff, and a "Well, Russelton, dash my wig (a favourite oath of Sir W.'s) but you're a queer fellow.""
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"He had a whiff at my fart and fanned it back to me."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "whiff"?
Common synonyms include: aroma, blast, blow, blow a hurricane, blow great guns, blow over.
How do you use "whiff" in a sentence?
He had a whiff at my fart and fanned it back to me.
How do you pronounce "whiff"?
Pronounced /(h)wɪf/.
Etymology
The noun is possibly: * partly a variant of Middle English wef, weffe (“bad smell, stench, stink; exhalation; vapour; tendency of something to go bad (?)”) [and other forms], possibly a variant of either: ** waf, waif, waife (“odour, scent”), possibly from waven (“to move to and fro, sway, wave; to stray, wander; to move in a weaving manner; (figuratively) to hesitate, vacillate”), from Old English wafian (“to wave”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *webʰ- (“to braid, weave”); or ** wef (“a blow, stroke”), from weven (“to travel, wander; to move to and fro, flutter, waver; to blow something away, waft; to cause something to move; to fall; to cut deeply; to sever; to give up, yield; to give deference to; to avoid; to afflict, trouble; to beckon, signal”); further etymology uncertain, perhaps from Old English wefan (“to weave”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *webʰ- (“to braid, weave”)), or from wǣfan (see bewǣfan, ymbwǣfan); and * partly onomatopoeic. Noun sense 6 (“name of a number of flatfish”) is possibly derived from sense 1 (“brief, gentle breeze; a light gust of air”), sense 4 (“small quantity of cloud, smoke, vapour, etc.”), and other such senses. The verb and adjective are derived from the noun. Verb sense 2.6 (“to catch fish by dragging a handline near the surface of the water from a moving boat”) is possibly derived from sense 1.1 (“to carry or convey (something) by, or as by, a whiff or puff of air”), sense 2.2 (“to be carried, or move as if carried, by a puff of air”), and other such senses. The interjection is derived from noun sense 7.4 (“a sound like that of air passing through a small opening; a short or soft whistle”).