wild man
Americannoun
-
a person who is uncivilized; a savage.
-
a person of violent temper, erratic behavior, etc.
-
a person of extreme or outrageous political opinions.
noun
-
a savage
-
an extremist in politics
Etymology
Origin of wild man
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“He’s a wild man out there,” Lea said of Pavia last month.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 1, 2025
She also linked it with various other figures from English folklore, like the woodwose, a wild man covered in fur.
From Slate • Apr. 8, 2023
D H P in the place to be, you live forever in our hearts, you wild man, you bringer of joy, you giant hearted man.”
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 2, 2022
Jerry Lee Lewis was the original wild man of rock'n'roll.
From BBC • Oct. 28, 2022
Laura had never seen a wild man before.
From "Little House in the Big Woods" by Laura Ingalls Wilder
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.