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.

---

wingman British  

/ ˈwɪŋmæn /

noun

1. a player in the wing position in Australian Rules

---

Etymology

Origin of wingman

First recorded in 1940–45; wing + man

---

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wingman

She knew exactly what she wanted, what the sound and the direction was, and just needed a wingman to help.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026

But Bruno is no wingman, like some dogs.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

Throughout his travels, David Ellison has been accompanied by a savvy wingman: Makan Delrahim.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026

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

“Well, what a good wingman you are, Scoob-a-doob! I mean that in the military sense, by the way. Not the way young folks these days use it.”

From "Clean Getaway" by Nic Stone

Random Word

Spin the wheel and learn a new word!

---