wad

1 of 2

noun

ˈwäd 

1

: a small mass, bundle, or tuft: such as

a

: a soft mass especially of a loose fibrous material variously used (as to stop an aperture, pad a garment, or hold grease around an axle)

b(1)

: a soft plug used to retain a powder charge or to avoid windage especially in a muzzle-loading gun

(2)

: a felt or paper disk used to separate the components of a shotgun cartridge

c

: a small mass of a chewing substance

a wad of gum

2

: a considerable amount (as of money)

3

a

: a roll of paper money

b

: money

wad

2 of 2

verb

wadded; wadding

transitive verb

1

a

: to insert a wad into

wad a gun

b

: to hold in by a wad

wad a bullet in a gun

2

: to form into a wad or wadding

especially : to roll or crush into a tight wad

3

: to stuff or line with some soft substance

wadder noun

Synonyms of wad

Noun

• loads
• ton
• plenty
• dozen
• chunk
• bunch
• pile
• slew
• deal
• lot
• bundle
• quantity
• stack
• wealth
• raft

Verb

• round
• roll
• ball

Examples of wad in a Sentence

Noun

He spent a wad on clothes.

a starlet who usually gets a big wad of publicity for her nonstop antics

Verb

she wadded up the paper and threw it in the wastebasket

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Think of pulling on a wad of gum in your mouth – that thin strand is like the fiber, except scientists slowly lower the big preform into the furnace and pull out the small fiber quickly. —John Ballato, The Conversation, 24 Mar. 2026

Shows were led by a sentient wad of meat, a talk-show host who vomits in front of guests, and a reality-TV star who never shows his face. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026

Verb

The pieces are ultra-light, and eco-friendly, mixing recycled down and wadding padding. —Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 25 Feb. 2026

This report wads produced by Miami Herald news partner CBS News Miami. —Cbs News Miami, Miami Herald, 18 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English wadde, from Medieval Latin wadda

First Known Use

Noun

1556, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for wad

• awed
• baaed
• baud
• bawd
• brod
• clawed
• cod
• flawed
• fraud
• gnawed
• god
• jawed

Kids Definition

wad

1 of 2 noun

ˈwäd 

1

: a small mass, bundle, or tuft

a wad of cotton

2

: a soft pad or plug used to hold a powder charge in a gun or cartridge

3

a

: a roll of paper money

b

: a large amount (as of money)

spent a wad on clothes

wad

2 of 2 verb

wadded; wadding

1

: to form into a wad or wadding

wad up a handkerchief

2

: to stuff or line with soft material