Whig

noun

ˈhwig  ˈwig 

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

Whiggism

ˈ(h)wi-ˌgi-zəm 

noun

Examples of Whig in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While Soft Control continues the Whigs’ tradition of combining bruising guitars with soul and R&B influences, Dulli suggests the perspective behind the songs has changed. — Spin Staff, SPIN, 3 June 2026

Read about the Afghan Whigs’ 1992 record Congregation in The 25 Best Grunge Albums of the ’90s. — Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 3 June 2026

With the formation of the Whig and Democratic parties in the 1820s, editors continued to be major political players. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 May 2026

On May 22, 1776, six weeks before the colonies declared independence, the Whig opposition debate in Parliament had already put its finger on a fundamental problem. — Nick Bunker, Washington Post, 22 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

short for Whiggamore, member of a Scottish group that marched to Edinburgh in 1648 to oppose the court party

First Known Use

1702, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Whig

• big
• brig
• brigg
• dig
• fig
• gig
• jig
• mig
• pig
• prig
• rig
• sprig

Kids Definition

Whig

noun

ˈhwig  ˈwig 

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