waisted

Waisted is an English adjective meaning having a waist or characterized by a waist-like constriction. The word derives from the noun waist with the suffix -ed and is used in fashion, design, and art to describe shapes or garments that emphasize a defined midsection.

In fashion, waisted garments feature a distinct waist seam or are tailored to nip in at the waist, producing an hourglass silhouette. Examples include waisted dresses, waisted jackets with a belt or cinched waist, and corseted bodices. The term can describe both natural body shapes and clothing that creates or enhances a waistline.

Beyond clothing, waisted describes forms with a constricted middle in design and architecture, such as waisted bottles, waisted columns, or other objects whose midsection narrows relative to their upper and lower portions. The usage conveys a visual emphasis on the trunk-like middle rather than on a uniform width.

Usage and tone: Waisted is more common in historical or descriptive fashion and design writing. In contemporary prose, writers may prefer phrases like “cinched at the waist” or “waist-defined.” The term should not be confused with wasted, which has a different meaning.

See also: waist, waistline, cinch, hourglass silhouette.