the Wild West

noun

: the western United States in the past when there were many cowboys, outlaws, etc.
stories about the Wild West
often used before another noun
Wild West stories
a Wild West show

Examples of the Wild West in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Set in the Wild West during the 1850s, the Netflix historical drama starring Taylor Kitsch and Betty Gilpin retells the real-life massacre of over 120 settlers at the hands of a Mormon and Native American army. Emily Blackwood, People.com, 16 Jan. 2025 Ramping up regulation There remains a thorny problem for the U.S. horse-racing industry: It’s long been seen as the Wild West as far as regulations and oversight of horse welfare are concerned, according to Lisa Lazarus, CEO of the Horseracing Integrity and Safety Authority, or HISA. Contessa Brewer, CNBC, 31 Dec. 2024 But just as many come from far afield of what may be thought of as the Wild West — New York and Oregon, for example, or even internationally. Ryan P. C. Trimble, Chicago Tribune, 10 Jan. 2025 During those days, the country’s intellectual and scientific communities were largely based on the East Coast while California remained the Wild West as far as some were concerned. Jake Goodrick, Sacramento Bee, 6 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for the Wild West 

Dictionary Entries Near the Wild West

Cite this Entry

“The Wild West.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/the%20Wild%20West. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!