Wild West

American  

noun

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

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Wild West British  

noun

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

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Etymology

Origin of Wild West

An Americanism dating back to 1850–55

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Wild West

“I don’t expect it to be the Wild West of AI.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026

Providers such as Klarna and Clearpay have become huge operators allowing consumers to pay in interest-free instalments, but campaigners have often described the wider sector as an unregulated Wild West.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

Later, in order to get the Minions from the Wild West to L.A.,

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026

It reminds me of the old joke about the guy in the Wild West who, before he was hanged for horse stealing, said “This will be a real lesson to me,” mournfully, from the scaffold.

From MarketWatch ● May 13, 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