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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

He pulled Messi away from the right wing and placed him at the tip of the forward formation - but without the job of a traditional striker.

From BBC ● Jul. 14, 2026

When short options are not viable, Nyland's get-out-of-jail-free card is 6ft 5in Alexander Sorloth who Norway play on the right wing as a wide targetman for long diagonal balls.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

“I fortunately escaped without a wound, though the right wing where I stood was exposed to and received all the enemy’s fire,” he wrote after a 1754 skirmish with the French.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

A shot from Colton Sissons on the right wing ricocheted off Ducks defenseman Jacob Trouba and went straight to Marner, who was charging into the slot.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 9, 2026

Miss Sarah held Miss Rose, whose right wing was bandaged to her side.

From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia

Brazil's right-wing Liberal Party on Saturday formally nominated Flavio Bolsonaro, a 45-year-old senator and son of imprisoned ex-president Jair Bolsonaro, as its candidate in the October presidential election.

From Barron's ● Jul. 25, 2026

Last year, Newsom inspired the ire of some Democrats by launching a podcast in which he chatted with right-wing figures, such as Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk and Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2026

Gadi Eisenkot, the former top commander of the Israeli military, has seen his popularity surge of late, with polls showing his centrist Yashar party drawing roughly equal support to Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

It is only logical that a natural forward player like Dembele in those situations has been able to thrive instead, excelling against Senegal before scoring a first-half hat-trick against Norway from that right-wing position.

From BBC ● Jun. 30, 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