wingman
wingman Lexical Profile
wingman Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A male friend who accompanies or supports another man in social situations, especially by helping him attract a romantic partner.
"He asked his best friend to act as his wingman at the party so he could introduce himself to the new colleague."
A pilot who flies behind and to the outside of the leader of a flying formation in order to provide protective support.
"The lead pilot relied on his experienced wingman to monitor the airspace during the training exercise."
• verb
To act as a supportive companion for someone in a social setting, especially to help them approach a potential romantic partner (informal).
"She offered to wingman for her shy roommate at the alumni mixer."
• Rhymes for wingman
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in early 20th-century aviation as a compound of 'wing' and 'man', originally describing a pilot positioned off the wingtip of a formation leader. Its informal social sense emerged in late 20th-century popular culture, notably popularized by the 1986 film 'Top Gun'.