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whereas

Saywair-AZ/(h)wɛɹˈæz/UK/weəɹˈæz/

Noun pluralwhereases

4 meanings of whereas

Practice

  1. 1
    conjunction
    Used to compare two things and show how they are different.

    Like putting two pictures side by side to point out how they differ.

    She likes tea, whereas her brother prefers coffee.

    The front of the house gets lots of sun, whereas the back stays cold all day.

    Similarwhile, whilst

  2. 2
    conjunction
    Used at the start of a legal sentence to mean 'since' or 'because.'

    Like a 'because' that lawyers put at the very start of a contract.

    Whereas the two companies wish to work together, they have signed this deal.

    Whereas the tenant has paid all rent on time, the landlord agrees to renew the lease.

    Similarsince

    Note
  3. 3
    nouncountable
    A part of a legal document that begins with the word 'whereas' and states a background fact.

    Like the opening lines of a story that set the scene before anything happens.

    The contract opened with a long whereas explaining why the deal was needed.

    Each whereas in the agreement listed one fact about the property.

    Similarrecital

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    adverbobsolete
    In or at the place where something is or happens.

    They returned to the village whereas they were born.

    He sought the hall whereas the king sat.

    Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from "where" plus "as" (meaning "that"). It was first used in the 1300s.