Wasta
/ˈwɑːstə/noun
The use of personal connections or influence to obtain preferential treatment, especially in employment or bureaucracy.
Did you know?Wasta comes from the Arabic root وَسَط, meaning “middle,” linking the modern idea of influence to the older image of someone positioned between two parties.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Semitic
Proto-Semitic
*w-s-ṭ
“A root associated with being in the middle, centrality, or mediation”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
wasaṭ
“Middle, center, or moderate position”
Classical Arabic
Arabic
wāsiṭa
“An intermediary or connection used to gain access”
20th Century
Arabic
wāsta / wāsṭa
“Intercession, influence, or personal connections”
Late 20th Century
English
wasta
“The use of connections to secure favors or preferential treatment”
Modern English
English
wasta
“Nepotistic or network-based influence, especially in Middle Eastern contexts”