DWI

abbreviation or noun

plural DWIs
1
US : the crime of driving a vehicle while intoxicated : dui
was arrested for DWI
a DWI charge/case
2
US : an arrest or conviction for driving while intoxicated
Brian's license had been revoked and his new job threatened after a third DWI.Lee Durkee
3
US : a person who is arrested for or convicted of driving under the influence
a convicted DWI

Examples of DWI in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The sheriff's office said that deputies administered standardized field sobriety tests on Glionna and then placed him under arrest for DWI. Ingrid Vasquez, PEOPLE, 20 May 2026 Adding to his list of troubles on Saturday, May 16 was the fact that his driver's license had been revoked due to that prior DWI. Sean Joseph Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026 Police arrested Suarez, charging him with two counts of manslaughter, three counts of vehicular manslaughter, two counts of vehicular assault and DWI. Mark Prussin, CBS News, 16 May 2026 He also was charged with misdemeanor DWI in Jackson County Circuit Court in connection with the incident. Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 13 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for DWI

Word History

Etymology

driving while intoxicated

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of DWI was in 1950

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“DWI.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/DWI. Accessed 31 May. 2026.

Legal Definition

DWI

abbreviation
driving while intoxicated
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