1
a
: a quick puff or slight gust especially of air, odor, gas, smoke, or spray
b
: an inhalation of odor, gas, or smoke
c
: a slight puffing or whistling sound
2
: a slight trace or indication
a whiff of scandal
3
whiffed; whiffing; whiffs
1
: to move with or as if with a puff of air
3
: to inhale an odor
1
2
: fan sense 8
whiffed three batters
Examples of whiff in a Sentence
Noun
I got a whiff of new paint when I entered the room.
I detected a whiff of sarcasm in her voice.
The pitcher had eight whiffs during the game.
Verb
He whiffed a strong odor of perfume.
The golfer nearly whiffed the shot.
The golfer nearly whiffed on the shot.
Recent Examples on the Web
Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026
The former was merely 4 percentage points below his career norm, and the latter was unsupported by his whiff and called strike rates.
—Al Melchior, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
The message was recognizably Trumpian, and the fact that it was repeated verbatim dozens of times itself whiffed of thought control.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whiff
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Noun
Imai did not induce any whiffs on the four swings against him.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 26 Feb. 2026
The former was merely 4 percentage points below his career norm, and the latter was unsupported by his whiff and called strike rates.
—Al Melchior, New York Times, 24 Feb. 2026
Verb
Coastal Carolina looked helpless again against Ruger Riojas, who whiffed two Chanticleers in the second.
—David Eckert, Austin American Statesman, 28 Feb. 2026
The message was recognizably Trumpian, and the fact that it was repeated verbatim dozens of times itself whiffed of thought control.
—Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for whiff
Cite this Entry
“Whiff.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/whiff. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
whiff
1 of 2 noun
ˈhwif 
ˈwif
1
: a quick puff or slight gust
a whiff of air
2
: a small quantity of odor, gas, or smoke that is breathed in
whiff
2 of 2 verb1
: to blow out or away in small amounts
2
: to breathe in an odor
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