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
1
: one that is produced in or characteristic of a western region and especially the western U.S.
2
often capitalized
: a novel, story, motion picture, 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
Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024
Tavern at the Mission, formerly Cedar Creek Inn, has finished its renovations, offering guests a contemporary new vibe that pays homage to San Juan Capistrano’s equestrian and Western heritage.
—Brock Keeling, Orange County Register, 26 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for western 
Adjective
Oceanside Pier has been destroyed five times since 1890
Built in 1888, the 1,954-foot-long pier is famous as the longest wooden pier on the western United States coastline.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 26 Apr. 2024
Tavern at the Mission, formerly Cedar Creek Inn, has finished its renovations, offering guests a contemporary new vibe that pays homage to San Juan Capistrano’s equestrian and Western heritage.
—Brock Keeling, Orange County Register, 26 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for western
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'western.' 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 western
Cite this Entry
“Western.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/western. Accessed 4 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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
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