non-Western

adjective

non-West·​ern ˌnän-ˈwe-stərn How to pronounce non-Western (audio)
1
: not being part of the western tradition
non-Western countries
2
: of or relating to non-Western societies
non-Western values

Examples of non-Western in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Every student can find a place in White’s curriculum, the release said, even blending Western and non-Western music in ways that challenge students to explore identity, history and culture while developing real skills. Michelle Mullins, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026 Poland, which is overwhelmingly white, has long been averse to non-Western migration. Elizabeth Flock, New Yorker, 23 Feb. 2026 For the first time, in 2025, the demand for non-American, non-Western, non-English-language content exceeded 50 percent of the global revenue pie. Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 15 Feb. 2026 While Western societies tend to favor clear, direct communication, Haque said non-Western cultures often view such explicitness as disrespectful, meaning people with roots in those cultures learn to strike a delicate balance between appeasing a difficult elder and staying true to oneself. Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 25 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for non-Western

Word History

First Known Use

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of non-Western was in 1902

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Cite this Entry

“Non-Western.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/non-Western. Accessed 4 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

non-Western

adjective
non-West·​ern
(ˈ)nän-ˈwes-tərn
1
: not being part of the western tradition
non-Western countries
2
: of or relating to non-Western societies
non-Western values
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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