English Reference
Noun

wingman

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈwɪŋmən/ wing·man

n.a friend who helps you by being social or looking out for you in a situation. You use this when you want to feel more confident or have someone to talk to.

n.a companion who provides social support or assistance to another person in a specific context. Often used in informal or colloquial registers to describe a friend who helps with social interactions.


SIMPLE

He is my best wingman when I go to parties.

CONTEXTUAL

I asked my brother to be my wingman for the first date so I wouldn't feel so nervous.

COMPLEX

In many social circles, having a reliable wingman is considered essential for navigating high-stakes networking events where one might otherwise feel isolated.


From wing + -man.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated