# winger

/ˈwɪŋɝ/ (US) · /wˈɪŋɡɐ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. sports position

noun · CEFR B2

a player in sports like football, hockey, or rugby who plays near the side of the field.

For teachers: an attacking player positioned near the touchline or side of the playing area in team sports.

- The winger ran down the side of the pitch and crossed the ball into the box.
- The manager decided to substitute the left winger in the second half to provide more defensive cover against the opponent's overlapping full-backs.

### 2. political faction

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

a person who belongs to a specific side of a political group, such as the 'left wing' or 'right wing'.

For teachers: a member of a particular faction or wing within a political party or movement.

- He is known as a right-winger who wants to lower all taxes.
- The party leadership struggled to balance the demands of the radical left-wingers with those of the more moderate members.

Usage: Usually preceded by 'left-' or 'right-' to specify the political orientation.

### 3. nautical storage

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical · Archaic

a small barrel or container kept near the sides of a ship's storage area.

For teachers: a cask stowed in the wings of a vessel's hold, typically smaller than those stowed amidships.

- The sailors moved the smaller wingers to make room for the larger cargo.
- Historical manifests indicate that wingers were often used for supplementary water storage due to their convenient size for peripheral stowage.

## Examples

- The winger ran down the sideline and crossed the ball.
- The coach decided to substitute the starting winger to bring on a faster player for the final ten minutes.
- Modern tactical systems often require a winger to track back and defend, rather than simply staying forward to wait for a counter-attacking opportunity.

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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.