Phrase guide

wiggle room

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

The opportunity to make alternative decisions or to pursue other courses of action, especially any involving only minor changes to one's present situation or course.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: informal, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

flexibility of interpretation or of options

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the request left some wiggle room for future restructuring

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: flexibility, flexibleness

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

11 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: marge de maniobra — opportunity to make alternative decisions
  • Finnish: liikkumavara — opportunity to make alternative decisions
  • Finnish: liikkumatila — opportunity to make alternative decisions
  • French: marge de manœuvre — opportunity to make alternative decisions
  • German: Spielraum — opportunity to make alternative decisions
  • Hungarian: mozgástér — opportunity to make alternative decisions
  • Italian: spazio di manovra — opportunity to make alternative decisions
  • Polish: furtka — opportunity to make alternative decisions
  • Portuguese: margem de manobra — opportunity to make alternative decisions
  • Russian: пространство для маневра (prostranstvo dlja manevra) — opportunity to make alternative decisions
  • Swedish: svängrum — opportunity to make alternative decisions