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• Westerner
  Westerner

  noun

  a native or inhabitant of the West, especially of the western U.S.
• westerner
  westerner

  noun

  (sometimes capital) a native or inhabitant of the west of any specific region, esp of the western states of the US or of the western hemisphere

Westerner

American  

[wes-ter-ner] / ˈwɛs tər nər /

noun

(sometimes lowercase)

1. a native or inhabitant of the West, especially of the western U.S.

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westerner British  

/ ˈwɛstənə /

noun

1. (sometimes capital) a native or inhabitant of the west of any specific region, esp of the western states of the US or of the western hemisphere

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• anti-Westerner
  noun
• pro-Westerner
  noun

Etymology

Origin of Westerner

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; western + -er ¹

Example Sentences

For Dang, having a Westerner on board could help attract more money, a person familiar with the situation said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 20, 2025

Mr Krieger is the first Westerner ever sentenced to death in Belarus.

From BBC • Jul. 30, 2024

“There is a double standard here. If I or any other Westerner had been lying there, everything would have been done to save them,” Steindl said.

From Seattle Times • Aug. 12, 2023

As John E. Echohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund, told the New York Times’ Adam Liptak: “He’s the only Westerner on the court. He knows these issues. He knows these tribes.”

From Slate • Jun. 15, 2023

“Because, Been-tone, these heartbroken people are finally listening. It is you, because you are here beside me, because you are a Westerner, because you give them a reason to hope.”

From "Where Things Come Back" by John Corey Whaley