A waif is a person, especially a child, who appears homeless, neglected, or lost, with no one to take care of them. The word often describes someone who looks thin, poorly dressed, and vulnerable, like a child wandering alone through city streets without a coat in winter.

You might encounter this word in classic literature like Oliver Twist, where orphaned children lived as waifs in Victorian London, surviving by their wits on the streets. The term captures both the physical state of being abandoned and the sadness and loneliness that accompany it.

The word can also describe stray animals that look lost and uncared for, like a skinny cat with matted fur that appears on someone's doorstep. Sometimes people use waif or waif-like to describe anyone who looks extremely thin and fragile, though this usage focuses only on appearance rather than the deeper sense of abandonment.

The phrase waifs and strays refers to homeless or neglected people and animals collectively. While waif carries a melancholy tone, many stories celebrate characters who start as waifs but find homes, families, or purpose through courage and kindness.