left wing

noun

plural left wings

1

: the leftist division of a group (such as a political party) : the segment of a group (such as a political party) that calls for greater adherence to liberalism (see liberalism sense 2a) or progressivism (see progressivism sense 1)

the left wing of the Democratic Party

2

: political parties and individuals who support or promote political liberalism or progressivism

sometimes, specifically : such parties and individuals who are deeply opposed to capitalism

left-wing

ˈleft-ˈwiŋ 

adjective

left-wing politics

left-winger

ˈleft-ˈwiŋ-ər 

noun

plural left-wingers

the party's left-wingers

Synonyms of left wing

• liberalism
• left

Examples of left wing in a Sentence

His nomination is supported by the party's left wing but opposed by the right wing.

the left wing has lost considerable influence in the party, which is now aggressively courting political moderates

Recent Examples on the Web

The 21-year-old left wing missed short side early against Montreal, teed up across the crease by Walton, and did not create a large volume of scoring chances as the tournament went on. — Murat Ates, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

The event cast Democrats as too left wing, describing them as communists, anti-American or even evil. — Arkansas Online, 10 Sep. 2026

This theory isn’t landing in Washington, where the frantic and ideologically charged discourse portrays the adrift Democrats as led around by their left wing. — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Sep. 2026

Defensively, the Current in her absence has been forced to find ways to mix and match help at left wing. — Daniel Sperry, Kansas City Star, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for left wing

• bowstring
• coiling
• downswing
• drawstring
• forewing
• hamstring
• lapwing
• mainspring
• offspring
• plaything
• shoestring
• texting