The Collaborative Dictionary

Whereas \Where*as"\, adv. At which place; where. [Obs.] --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] At last they came whereas that lady bode. --Spenser. [1913 Webster]

Whereas \Where*as"\, conj. [1913 Webster]

Considering that; it being the case that; since; -- used to introduce a preamble which is the basis of declarations, affirmations, commands, requests, or like, that follow. [1913 Webster]

When in fact; while on the contrary; the case being in truth that; although; -- implying opposition to something that precedes; or implying recognition of facts, sometimes followed by a different statement, and sometimes by inferences or something consequent. [1913 Webster] Are not those found to be the greatest zealots who are most notoriously ignorant? whereas true zeal should always begin with true knowledge. --Sprat. [1913 Webster]

Moby Thesaurus

albeit, although, as, as far as, as long as, as things go, at which time, because, being as how, boundary condition, catch, cause, clause, condition, considering, donnee, during which time, escalator clause, escape clause, escape hatch, fine print, for, forasmuch as, given, grounds, howbeit, in that, inasmuch as, insofar as, insomuch as, joker, kicker, limiting condition, now, obligation, parameter, parce que, prerequisite, provision, provisions, proviso, requisite, saving clause, seeing, seeing as how, seeing that, since, sine qua non, small print, specification, stipulation, string, terms, the while, ultimatum, when, while, whilst

English

Alternative spellings

• whereäs

Pronunciation

• /ʍɛːɹˈæz/

Conjunction

1. But in contrast; whilst on the contrary…

   He came first in the race whereas his brother came last.

2. It being the case that…

   And Whereas it hath pleased the Great Governor of the World to incline the hearts of the legislatures we respectively represent in Congress, to approve of, and to authorize us to ratify the said Articles of Confederation and perpetual Union. (United States Articles of Confederation)

Usage notes

• Whereas is used in the second sense principally in legal documents, formal resolutions of corporate bodies, and the like.

Translations