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

One expert told me the situation was a "Wild West".

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

So you never felt like you were in the Wild West doing this passionate thing that felt uncomfortable.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 9, 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

We would attend the afternoon show, usually featuring films about the Wild West and gladiators.

From "Kaffir Boy: An Autobiography" by Mark Mathabane