western

[ wes-tern ]

/ ˈwɛs tərn /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR western ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

lying toward or situated in the west: our company's western office.

directed or proceeding toward the west: a western migration.

coming or originating from the west, as a wind.

(often initial capital letter) of, pertaining to, living in, or characteristic of the West, especially the western U.S.: a Western ranch.

(usually initial capital letter) Occidental: to adopt Western dress.

(usually initial capital letter) of or relating to the non-Communist countries of Europe and the Americas: Western trade agreements.

(initial capital letter) of or relating to the Western Church.

noun

(often initial capital letter) a story, movie, or radio or television play about the U.S. West of the 19th century.

western sandwich.

a person or thing from a western region or country.

Nearby words

Origin of western

before 1050; 1905–10 for def 8; Middle English, Old English westerne, equivalent to west west + -erne -ern

Related formsan·ti-West·ern, adjectivenon·west·ern, adjective, nounpro-West·ern, adjectiveun·west·ern, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for western

In their past calls for attacks on Western targets, AQAP has focused on putting bombs on planes, not revenge attacks.
U.S. Spies See Al Qaeda Fingerprints on Paris Massacre|Shane Harris, Nancy A. Youssef|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This time it would be the biggest mistake for the Western press to repeat that—absolutely the biggest mistake.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive|Ayaan Hirsi Ali|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“You are applying Western metrics to someone who is not using that metric against you,” referring to ISIS, Bolger said.
Pentagon Doesn’t Know How Many People It’s Killed in the ISIS War|Nancy A. Youssef|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Although he brings a Western spin to things, he seems equally inspired by the local sense of style.
The Photographer Who Gave Up Manhattan for Marrakech|Liza Foreman|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST

“The threat streams to U.S. interests and Western interests are off the chart,” he said.
ISIS Fight Has a Spy Shortage, Intel Chair Says|Kimberly Dozier|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
At sunset the western sky will change to crimson and the eastern cliffs will change to gold.
A Trip to the Orient|Robert Urie Jacob
Congress have made corporations, and exercised complete legislation in the Western Territory.
Abridgment of the Debates of Congress, from 1789 to 1856, Vol. I (of 16)|Thomas Hart Benton
At ten thirty there would be another show for the western states.
Third Warning|Roy J. Snell
We to-day made a short stop at a place which bears the name of Western Philadelphia.
Gleanings by the Way|John A. Clark
America is situated in the western hemisphere, and is called the new world, because discovered in modern times.
A Week of Instruction and Amusement,|Mrs. Harley

British Dictionary definitions for western

western

/ (ˈwɛstən) /

adjective

situated in or towards or facing the west

going or directed to or towards the west

(of a wind, etc) coming or originating from the west

native to, inhabiting, or growing in the west

music See country and western

Western

/ (ˈwɛstən) /

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of the West as opposed to the Orient

(formerly) of, relating to, or characteristic of the Americas and the parts of Europe not under Communist rule

of, relating to, or characteristic of the western states of the US

noun

a film, book, etc, concerned with life in the western states of the US, esp during the era of exploration and early development

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

Word Origin and History for western

western

adj.

"toward or of the west," Old English westerne (see west) + -erne, suffix denoting direction. The noun meaning "book or movie about the Old West" is first attested 1909.

western

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of western

Examples from the Web for western

western

adjective

Western

adjective

noun

western