whilst

The word “whilst” means a more formal or British variant of "while", meaning during the same time or in contrast. In plain terms, means exactly the same as "while" but sounds more formal or old-fashioned.

“Whilst” is pronounced wylst (/waɪlst/ in IPA).

Here is “whilst” used in a sentence: “Whilst I understand your concerns, I still think the plan should go ahead.”

“Whilst” is a conjunction.

The word “whilst” comes from Middle English. Built from Middle English whiles ("while", used adverbially) plus an added -t sound, a pattern also seen in words like "amongst" and "amidst".

“Whilst” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.

Whilst and while mean exactly the same thing: during the same time, or in contrast. The difference is purely one of register and region: whilst is chiefly British and sounds more formal or old-fashioned, while while is standard everywhere. There is no situation where whilst is required.

Whilst is grammatically correct but very rare in American English, where it can come across as affected or archaic. American style guides consistently recommend while. Writers targeting an American or international audience should generally choose while.

Yes. Like while, whilst can introduce a contrast rather than a time relationship, as in "whilst I agree with the goal, I doubt the method," where it means although or whereas. Context tells the reader whether the meaning is time or contrast.

Whilst leans formal, and in British English it appears mainly in writing, official documents, and careful speech. Even in Britain, while is more common in everyday conversation. Using whilst in casual contexts can sound stiff, though it is never incorrect.