waster

/ˈweɪstə/

//ˈweɪstə// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"waster" is a 6-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“waster” is uncommon English (frequency #64,831 among 12,113 “W” headwords), classed as a noun. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#64,831
frequency rank, English
12,113
“W” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - Someone or something that wastes; someone who squanders or spends extravagantly.

Key facts for waster
PropertyValue
Headwordwaster
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈweɪstə/
Letters6
Frequency rank#64,831
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “waster” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). waster lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

waster is uncommon English at frequency #64,831 among 12,113 “W” headwords, classed as anoun, transcribed /ˈweɪstə/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 4 senses are on record.

Our edit-distance generator produced no likely misspellings for waster, since its letter pattern doesn't lend itself to common typo substitutions. This entry stands alone in our confusable dataset, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: From Middle English wastere, waister, wastar, wastour, equivalent to waste + -er. Compare Anglo-Norman wastur, Old French gastëor. The correct English form is waster, spelled W-A-S-T-E-R.

Definition

  1. 1
    Someone or something that wastes; someone who squanders or spends extravagantly.
  2. 2
    An imperfection in the wick of a candle, causing it to waste.
  3. 3
    A destroyer or plunderer.
  4. 4
    An item that is spoiled during its manufacture.

Etymology

From Middle English wastere, waister, wastar, wastour, equivalent to waste + -er. Compare Anglo-Norman wastur, Old French gastëor.

This word in other languages

malgastador(Español)gaspilleur(Français)Verschwender(Deutsch)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "waster"?
"waster" is spelled W-A-S-T-E-R. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈweɪstə/.
What does "waster" mean?
As a noun, "waster" means: Someone or something that wastes; someone who squanders or spends extravagantly.
How do you pronounce "waster"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "waster" is /ˈweɪstə/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "waster"?
From Middle English wastere, waister, wastar, wastour, equivalent to waste + -er. Compare Anglo-Norman wastur, Old French gastëor. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “waster”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is W-A-S-T-E-R - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈweɪstə/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Other uncommon English words near this rank

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list