western

1 of 2

adjective

west·​ern ˈwe-stərn 

1

a

: coming from the west

a western storm

b

: situated or lying toward the west

islands in the western half of the archipelago

2

or Western : of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated West: such as

a

: steeped in or stemming from the Greco-Roman traditions

Western culture

b

: of or relating to the noncommunist countries of Europe and America

Western powers

c

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the American West

Western clothes

western music

3

Western : of or relating to the Roman Catholic or Protestant segment of Christianity

Western liturgies

western

2 of 2

noun

1

: one that is produced in or characteristic of a western region and especially the western U.S.

2

often Western : a work of literature or film (such as a novel, story, movie, or broadcast) dealing with life in the western U.S. especially during the latter half of the 19th century

Examples of western in a Sentence

Adjective

the western part of the state

Old western movies are my favorites.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Some experts argue that China's steady execution has already given it an edge, while Western progress has been less consistent. —Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2026

In a report released Thursday, the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification said famine was found in two more areas in the western region of Darfur where famine was confirmed for the first time in a displacement camp in August 2024. —Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026

Noun

Howard Hughes and his assistants sifted through a stack of photos of models, looking for a heroine for his next film, a western called The Outlaw. —CBS News, 8 Feb. 2026

Liu said Quentin Tarantino wrote the part for her after watching her performance in the 2000 western. —Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English westerne, from Old English; akin to Old High German westrōni western, Old English west

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1902, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing western

• country and western
• spaghetti western
• western equine encephalitis
• western equine encephalomyelitis
• western hemisphere
• western omelet
• western rat snake
• western red cedar
• western saddle
• western sandwich
• western swing

Rhymes for western

• northwestern
• southwestern

Kids Definition

western

1 of 2 adjective

west·​ern ˈwes-tərn 

1

capitalized : of, relating to, or resembling that of the West

2

: lying toward or coming from the west

a western storm

western

2 of 2 noun

: a story, film, or radio or television show about life in the western U.S. in the last part of the 19th century