What does wadge mean?
Wadge is an informal noun used chiefly in British and Australian English. Its most familiar meaning is a large amount or quantity of something, as in “a wadge of cash.” It can also mean a lump, wad, or compact mass of material, especially in regional speech. The word is plainspoken and mildly playful rather than polished, so it suits conversation, informal writing, or a humorous aside; it is not normally used in formal legal or academic prose. Although “wedge” may look like a spelling variant, the two words have different core meanings: a wedge is a tapered piece used for splitting or fastening, whereas a wadge is an amount or mass. Wadge is also worth knowing as a piece of regional English vocabulary, showing how vivid, concrete nouns can give everyday speech a humorous edge.
nounAn informal term for a large amount or quantity of something, or for a lump, wad, or compact mass of material.
- A large amount or quantity of something.
- A lump, wad, or compact mass of material.
"He tucked a wadge of notes into the lining of his coat."
"After paying the deposit, they still had a wadge of money left."
"He carried a wadge of dirty clothes to the launderette."
The plural is spelled in the same way as the plural of wedge, so context is needed to distinguish the two nouns.
"The shelves held several wadges of freshly kneaded dough."
A wadge may look like a wedge, but one is something you count and the other is something you use to split wood.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does wadge come from?
Wadge is a dialectal English development of the word wedge, originally associated with a wedge-shaped piece and subsequently extended to a lump or mass. Its history illustrates how a regional form can diverge in both meaning and usage from a more general English word. The standard noun wedge and related forms such as wedgie and wedgable preserve the same word family.
How wadge is actually used
Informal and mildly playful, especially in British and Australian English. The sense meaning a large quantity is idiomatic, while the sense meaning a lump or mass is more regional.
Easily confused with wadge
A wedge is a tapered piece used for splitting or fastening something, whereas a wadge means a mass of material or an informal large amount of something.