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• right wing
  right wing

  noun

  members of a conservative or reactionary political party, or those opposing extensive political reform.
• right-wing
  right-wing

  A descriptive term for conservative or reactionary political views, particularly those supporting the current social order or calling for a return to an earlier order. Right-wing groups are sometimes known collectively as the Right. (Compare left-wing.)

right wing

American  

noun

• right wings
  plural

1. members of a conservative or reactionary political party, or those opposing extensive political reform.

2. such a political party or a group of such parties.

3. that part of a political or social organization advocating a conservative or reactionary position.

   The union's right wing favored a moderate course of action.

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right wing British  

noun

1. (often capitals) the conservative faction of an assembly, party, etc

2. the part of an army or field of battle on the right from the point of view of one facing the enemy

3. 1. the right-hand side of the field of play from the point of view of a team facing its opponent's goal

   2. a player positioned in this area in any of various games

   3. the position occupied by such a player

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adjective

1. of, belonging to, or relating to the right wing

right-wing ¹ Cultural  

1. A descriptive term for conservative or reactionary political views, particularly those supporting the current social order or calling for a return to an earlier order. Right-wing groups are sometimes known collectively as the Right. (Compare left-wing.)

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right-wing ² Cultural  

1. A descriptive term for an individual or a political faction that advocates very conservative policies. Right-wing groups generally support free enterprise. In the United States, the right wing generally argues for a strong national defense program and opposes federal involvement in promoting social welfare. (Compare left-wing.)

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Discover More

Although both major political parties in the United States have right-wing factions, right-wing policies are usually associated with the Republican party.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• right-winger
  noun
• right-wing
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• right wings
  plural

Etymology

Origin of right wing

First recorded in 1930–35

Compare meaning

How does right-wing compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• left wing vs. right wing

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

right wing right-wing

The sequence started with Seattle’s Peter Kingston, another second-half substitute, weaving through traffic on a long run up the right wing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

It’s a stunning collapse for a onetime ad man with a dodgy reputation who rose to become the go-to digital campaign guru for Latin America’s ascendant right wing.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

Little is known about Graham—or, apparently, by Graham—and it’s not as if the state’s right wing was ever adoring of her late brother.

From Slate ● Aug. 29, 2026

The sight of Saka flying down the right wing and involved in a lot of Arsenal's attacks will be welcomed by supporters.

From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026

“It’ll be fine,” Icarus said, as his father finished the right wing.

From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan

How exactly Cerimedo got into politics — and how he became a right-wing rabble-rouser — remains somewhat opaque.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 13, 2026

Following a large influx of asylum seekers in Sweden in 2015, successive left- and right-wing governments have tightened asylum and immigration rules.

From Barron's ● Sep. 9, 2026

The city, whose indigenous name—“the place where the fish stops”—comes from its river rapids, gave Brazil’s right-wing former president, Jair Bolsonaro, 79% of the vote in 2018.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 29, 2026

Bauer researches historical and contemporary right-wing movements in the United States and recently wrote a book called “Making the Liberal Media.”

From Salon ● Aug. 26, 2026

He reproached us for being elderly middle-class intellectuals who identified with the movie’s right-wing authorities instead of with the bikers.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela