Western Europe

Cultural  

1. Those nations in Europe that were not part of the Eastern Bloc, or more specifically, those nations allied with the United States in NATO (except Turkey). Neutral or nonaligned nations such as Sweden, Switzerland, Austria, and Spain, though western European in terms of geography, are not usually meant when the term “Western Europe” is used as the opposite for terms such as “Eastern Europe,” “the Eastern Bloc,” or “communist Europe.”

---

Example Sentences

Searching out the echoes of the Celtic foundation, Mr. Robb expresses the current mood of the isles and Western Europe more broadly.

From The Wall Street Journal

Throughout the Cold War, the Soviet Union threatened to invade Western Europe through the Fulda Gap and in the north German plain, building up Soviet and Warsaw Pact forces along NATO’s eastern flank.

From The Wall Street Journal

Chinese brands hold a roughly 7% share of Western Europe’s total auto market, selling more than 500,000 units in the first three quarters of 2025, according to data provider Schmidt Automotive Research.

From The Wall Street Journal

A third European plant is in the works, likely in Western Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal

The hybrids, which are charged lower tariffs, account for nearly half of BYD’s sales in Western Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal