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• Western Hemisphere
  Western Hemisphere

  noun

  the western part of the terrestrial globe, roughly extending from the prime meridian west to the antimeridian: sometimes considered synonymous with the New World because the Americas are its primary composition, the Western Hemisphere technically extends into western Eurasia and Africa, easternmost Siberia, and part of Antarctica as well.
• western hemisphere
  western hemisphere

  noun

  that half of the globe containing the Americas, lying to the west of the Greenwich or another meridian

Western Hemisphere

American  

[wes-tern hem-i-sfeer] / ˈwɛs tərn ˈhɛm ɪˌsfɪər /

noun

1. the western part of the terrestrial globe, roughly extending from the prime meridian west to the antimeridian: sometimes considered synonymous with the New World because the Americas are its primary composition, the Western Hemisphere technically extends into western Eurasia and Africa, easternmost Siberia, and part of Antarctica as well.

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western hemisphere British  

noun

1. that half of the globe containing the Americas, lying to the west of the Greenwich or another meridian

2. the lands contained in this, esp the Americas

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Western Hemisphere Scientific  

/ wĕs′tərn /

1. The half of the Earth that includes North America, Central America, and South America, as divided roughly by the 0° and 180° meridians.

2. See more at prime meridian

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Etymology

Origin of Western Hemisphere

First recorded in 1640–50

Example Sentences

This all comes as the US has also explicitly shifted its focus away from Europe and towards what it calls the "Western Hemisphere" – the Americas.

From BBC • Apr. 24, 2026

Although these pollutants have previously been detected in places like Antarctica and Asia, scientists had struggled to measure them in the air over the Western Hemisphere until this study.

From Science Daily • Apr. 11, 2026

Trump officials have asked oil companies including Exxon Mobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips what more they can do to push up Western Hemisphere production of oil and natural gas, according to people familiar with the matter.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 26, 2026

Rather than being demeaned, Rubio was performing his role as Secretary of State by addressing a coalition of Western Hemisphere countries assembled at an official government summit focused on regional cooperation and counternarcotics efforts.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 9, 2026

As for the horses, they were from Europe; except for llamas in the Andes, the Western Hemisphere had no beasts of burden.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann