wafer

1 of 2

noun

wa·​fer ˈwā-fər 

plural wafers

1

a

: a thin crisp cake, candy, or cracker

b

: a round thin piece of unleavened bread used in the celebration of the Eucharist

2

: an adhesive disk of dried paste with added coloring matter used as a seal

3

a

: a thin disk or ring resembling a wafer and variously used (as for a valve or diaphragm)

b

: a thin slice of semiconductor (such as silicon) used as a base for an electronic component or circuit

wafer-like

ˈwā-fər-ˌlīk 

adjective

or less commonly waferlike

wafer-like cookies

a wafer-like electronic sensor

wafer

2 of 2

verb

wafered; wafering ˈwā-f(ə-)riŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to seal, close, or fasten with a wafer

2

: to divide (something, such as a silicon rod) into wafers

Examples of wafer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Inspired by the classic Southern dessert many of us grew up eating, Southern Banana Pudding is a French-style custard ice cream with swirls of banana sauce and bits of vanilla wafers. —Melinda Salchert, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026

The company is the only producer of extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography machines, without which Nvidia couldn't print extremely fine patterns on silicon wafers. —Kai Nicol-Schwarz, CNBC, 25 Feb. 2026

Verb

The team evaluated both cell types using an I-V tester, wafer metrology system, transmission electron microscopy, and simulation software. —Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 14 Feb. 2026

The analysts see upside to wafer fab equipment and raised their 2026 earnings estimates. —Jim Cramer, CNBC, 16 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French wafer, walfre, of Germanic origin; akin to Middle Dutch wafele waffle

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1748, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing wafer

• wafer-thin

Rhymes for wafer

• chafer
• safer

Kids Definition

wafer

noun

wa·​fer

ˈwā-fər

1

a

: a thin crisp cake or cracker

b

: a round thin piece of bread used in the sacrament of Communion

2

: something (as a piece of candy or a computer chip) resembling a wafer especially in thin round form

Medical Definition

wafer

noun

wa·​fer ˈwā-fər 

: cachet