whig
whig Lexical Profile
whig Game Scores & Validity
• noun
British A member of the historical British political faction and party from the late 17th to the mid-19th century that sought to limit royal authority, increase parliamentary power, and eventually evolved into the Liberal Party.
"During the Glorious Revolution, every prominent Whig in Parliament supported the constitutional limits placed upon the monarchy."
American A member of a major American political party active from the 1830s to the 1850s that opposed Andrew Jackson and the Democratic Party, advocating for protective tariffs, national banking, and internal improvements.
"Before joining the newly formed Republican Party in the 1850s, Abraham Lincoln served as a dedicated Whig in the House of Representatives."
American An American colonist who supported the American Revolution and independence from Great Britain.
"In revolutionary Boston, a vocal Whig often clashed with neighbors who remained loyal to the British crown."
• adjective
Relating to, characteristic of, or supporting the historical British or American Whig parties or their political principles.
"The historian analyzed how Whig ideology shaped early nineteenth-century constitutional reforms."
Word Nuance & Usage
Do not confuse 'Whig' (a member of a historical political party) with its homophone 'wig' (an artificial covering of hair).
• Rhymes for whig
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the mid-17th century as a shortened form of the Scots word 'whiggamore' (originally referring to cattle or horse drivers from western Scotland), which was first applied derisively to Scottish Presbyterian rebels before being adopted by the British parliamentary opposition in 1679.