Wild West

noun

variants or less commonly wild west

1

the Wild West : the western U.S. in its frontier period characterized by roughness and lawlessness

stories about the Wild West

2

: something that is chaotic and uncontrolled especially due to a lack of regulation or oversight

… mulling the idea of regulating an industry that has up until now been something of a Wild West.

—Michelle McQuigg

The online ecosystem … is a Wild West of information and misinformation that is largely unmonitored, distributed in an instant, and posted by anyone.

—Alan Marcus

Wild West adjective

or less commonly wild west

a bar with a Wild West theme

a wild west situation/approach

Examples of Wild West in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In the modern age of remote hiring, the virtual job interview has devolved into a Wild West of unprofessionalism and artificial intelligence shortcuts. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 22 Feb. 2026

From a tiny Wild West corner of Arizona to a Texas outpost with a legendary public art installation, here are the eight best towns and cities to visit on Route 66. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 21 Feb. 2026

Despite denim enthusiasts often being drawn to traditionally masculine iconography—such as the Wild West, cowboys, and Hollywood rebels like Marlon Brando and James Dean—what truly defines the subculture is a deep appreciation for nostalgia, freedom, and self-expression. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 18 Feb. 2026

More recently, Fox’s The Masked Singer, based on the wacky Korean format, and TLC’s MILF Manor have shared some of this Wild West DNA. —Peter White, Deadline, 12 Feb. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1833, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Wild West

• abreast
• accessed
• addressed
• appressed
• armrest
• arrest
• assessed
• attest
• backrest
• behest
• bequest
• caressed

Kids Definition

Wild West

noun

: the western U.S. in its frontier period characterized by roughness and lawlessness