1
: a member or supporter of a major British political group of the late 17th through early 19th centuries seeking to limit the royal authority and increase parliamentary power compare tory
2
: an American favoring independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution
3
: a member or supporter of an American political party formed about 1834 in opposition to the Jacksonian Democrats, associated chiefly with manufacturing, commercial, and financial interests, and succeeded about 1854 by the Republican party
Whig
adjective
Examples of Whig in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Power of the Heart also sports contributions from Rosanne Cash, Rufus Wainwright, Lucinda Williams, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, the Afghan Whigs, 90-year-old blues legend Bobby Rush, Maxim Ludwig and Angel Olsen and Rickie Lee Jones, among others.
—
Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 Mar. 2024
Either a Republican or a Democrat has claimed the White House since Zachary Taylor won as a Whig in 1848.
—USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024
The first time was in 1849, when the Whigs, Democrats, and Free Soil Party could not settle on a new House speaker.
—Misty Severi, Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2023
Holzer deftly summarizes the complicated politics of the antebellum period, including the rise of the secretive, nativist Know-Nothing movement, the collapse of the Whigs, and the formation of the anti-slavery Republican Party.
—Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Feb. 2024
Politically, these tensions split and ultimately destroyed the old Whig Party, in which Lincoln had spent most of his political career, inspiring anti-immigration nativists to form a political organization of their own.
—Harold Holzer, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024
The Church and the Afghan Whigs and have announced a co-headlining tour of North America.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2024
The origins of the GOP date back to the mid-19th century when former members of several existing political parties, including the Whig and Free Soil parties, united in opposition of slavery.
—Alex Gurley, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2024
The Republican Party formed on the heels of the Whigs, which saw members desert to join the Southern Democrats.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2024
Spin Staff, SPIN, 1 Mar. 2024
Either a Republican or a Democrat has claimed the White House since Zachary Taylor won as a Whig in 1848.
—USA TODAY, 26 Feb. 2024
The first time was in 1849, when the Whigs, Democrats, and Free Soil Party could not settle on a new House speaker.
—Misty Severi, Washington Examiner, 17 Oct. 2023
Holzer deftly summarizes the complicated politics of the antebellum period, including the rise of the secretive, nativist Know-Nothing movement, the collapse of the Whigs, and the formation of the anti-slavery Republican Party.
—Barbara Spindel, The Christian Science Monitor, 15 Feb. 2024
Politically, these tensions split and ultimately destroyed the old Whig Party, in which Lincoln had spent most of his political career, inspiring anti-immigration nativists to form a political organization of their own.
—Harold Holzer, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Feb. 2024
The Church and the Afghan Whigs and have announced a co-headlining tour of North America.
—Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 6 Feb. 2024
The origins of the GOP date back to the mid-19th century when former members of several existing political parties, including the Whig and Free Soil parties, united in opposition of slavery.
—Alex Gurley, Peoplemag, 25 Jan. 2024
The Republican Party formed on the heels of the Whigs, which saw members desert to join the Southern Democrats.
—Laura Schulte, Journal Sentinel, 9 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Whig.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near Whig
Cite this Entry
“Whig.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Whig. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
1
: a member or supporter of a British political group of the late 17th through early 19th centuries trying to lessen the power of the monarch and to increase the power of the parliament
2
: an American supporting independence from Great Britain during the American Revolution
3
: a member or supporter of a 19th century American political party formed to oppose the Democrats
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