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Wild West

American

noun

the western frontier region of the U.S., before the establishment of stable government.

Wild West British

noun

the western US during its settlement, esp with reference to its frontier lawlessness

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Wild West

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"So it is the Wild West, because for most of the participants on Polymarket, we just don't know who they are. All we have is a blockchain address."

From BBC • Apr. 28, 2026

The prediction markets have spent a lot of energy of late angling to convince people that they are not the complete and total Wild West that they have often appeared to be.

From Slate • Apr. 24, 2026

The trend underscores a Wild West internet landscape that is largely bereft of guardrails as false narratives erode digital trust.

From Barron's • Apr. 11, 2026

Some lawmakers and researchers, however, argue that lax regulation has fostered a nonprofit Wild West.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2026

A train with a more lighthearted cargo also headed for Chicago, this one leased by Buffalo Bill for his Wild West show.

From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023