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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

Roaming Spain’s right wing, Yamal caused enough problems for France that he drew a penalty kick in the 22nd minute.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 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

But it took just three for them to fall behind, the Italians breaking down the defence far too easily to create an overlap for Ostuni Minuzzi down the right wing.

From BBC ● May 17, 2026

When Doku joined City, part of the rationale was to utilise him on the right wing - a position he played at Rennes more often than he has in Manchester.

From BBC ● May 16, 2026

His hand moved over to the bottom rows on the right wing.

From "Okay for Now" by Gary D. Schmidt

It paid her a generous rent, in an attempt to prevent the house being used as a site for extreme right-wing tourism.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

The right-wing populist is running against a comedian who dresses up in a trash can and calls himself Count Binface, ruler of the planet Sigma IX, to represent Clacton.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 12, 2026

The man accused of murdering influential right-wing campaigner Charlie Kirk broke down in tears of regret days after the killing, according to video testimony played in a US court on Thursday.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 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

The agreement infuriated Chief Buthelezi, who severed relations with the NP and formed an alliance with a group of discredited homeland leaders and white right-wing parties solely concerned with obtaining an Afrikaner homeland.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela