wingman

American

[wing-man] / ˈwɪŋˌmæn /

Or wing man

noun

Air Force. a pilot in a plane that flies just outside and behind the right wing of the leading aircraft in a flight formation, in order to provide protective support.
Slang.
1. a man who helps, protects, or guides a friend or associate.
  
  the CEO’s troubleshooting wingman.
2. a man who helps a friend with romantic relationships, especially one who helps the friend attract a woman.
  
  When I walked into the bar, my wingman was already there, talking to two women.
Sports. winger.

wingman British

/ ˈwɪŋmæn /

noun

a player in the wing position in Australian Rules

"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

Etymology

Origin of wingman

First recorded in 1940–45; wing + man

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.

Upon noticing this, the pilot of the lead aircraft then asked another pilot on his plane to film a video of the wingman aircraft.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

The wingman pilot then abruptly flew his jet up higher and flipped it so that it could be better captured on camera.

From BBC • Apr. 22, 2026

Who’s the taxi driver serving as Marty’s wingman and protector?

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 26, 2025

The loyal wingman is a type of AI-powered drone designed to operate in tandem with manned fighter jets and other aircraft, providing reconnaissance and carrying extra weapons.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 14, 2025

He wasn’t sure he wanted a giant as his wingman, even if that giant could cook a mean bowl of stew.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023