wingman

American  

[wing-man] / ˈwɪŋˌmæn /

Or wing man

noun

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. Sports. winger.

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wingman British  

/ ˈwɪŋmæn /

noun

1. a player in the wing position in Australian Rules

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Etymology

Origin of wingman

First recorded in 1940–45; wing + man

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wingman

But Bruno is no wingman, like some dogs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

South Korea's air force suspended the wingman pilot, who has since left the military to work for a commercial airline.

From BBC ● Apr. 22, 2026

The money poured in, leading to resentment among cohorts who felt they’d been shortchanged, none more so than Bob Gimlin, Patterson’s wingman in the field during the infamous shoot.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 12, 2026

The musician Tyler Okonma, better known as the Tyler the Creator, is great in his feature film acting debut as Willy, Marty’s gambling wingman.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 23, 2025

Aleksandr didn’t even realize who it was until he heard her voice over the radio—his wingman was supposed to be a male pilot from a different regiment.

From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein