# western

/ˈhwɛstɝn/ (US) · /wˈɛstən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/western
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. direction

adjective · CEFR A2

located in or facing the west.

For teachers: situated in, facing, or moving toward the west.

- The western coast of the country is famous for its beautiful sunsets.
- The western boundary of the estate is marked by a dense forest that separates the farmland from the neighboring valley.

### 2. cultural/political

adjective · CEFR B1

relating to countries like those in Europe and North America.

For teachers: relating to the 'West' as a cultural, political, or economic entity, typically including Europe, North America, and Australasia.

- Many western countries share similar democratic values and legal systems.
- The professor argued that western philosophical traditions have been heavily influenced by ancient Greek thought since the Renaissance.

### 3. film/book genre

noun · CEFR B1

a film or book about cowboys and outlaws in the 19th-century American West.

For teachers: a genre of fiction set in the American Old West, typically featuring cowboys, outlaws, and the frontier conflict.

- My grandfather loves watching an old western on Sunday afternoons.
- The director's latest project is a gritty western that deconstructs the traditional myths of the American frontier through a modern lens.

## Examples

- He loves watching an old Western on Sunday afternoons.
- The director decided to film a modern Western that explores the harsh reality of life on a cattle ranch.
- While the classic Western often relied on clear distinctions between heroes and villains, contemporary examples of the genre frequently subvert these tropes to examine the moral ambiguity of the frontier.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.