Western Hemisphere

[wes-tern hem-i-sfeer]

noun

1. the western part of the terrestrial globe, roughly extending from the prime meridian west to the antimeridian: sometimes considered synonymous with the New World because the Americas are its primary composition, the Western Hemisphere technically extends into western Eurasia and Africa, easternmost Siberia, and part of Antarctica as well.

western hemisphere

noun

1. that half of the globe containing the Americas, lying to the west of the Greenwich or another meridian

2. the lands contained in this, esp the Americas

Western Hemisphere

1. The half of the Earth that includes North America, Central America, and South America, as divided roughly by the 0° and 180° meridians.

2. See more at prime meridian

Word History and Origins

Origin of Western Hemisphere¹

First recorded in 1640–50

Example Sentences

The country, once one of the poorest nations in the western hemisphere, and a former British colony, has been enjoying a surge in wealth since it first discovered oil in its territorial waters in 2015.

From BBC

Contrary to what Trump told Welker, more than 30 nations, largely in the western hemisphere, provide birthright citizenship.

From Salon

The White House said in a statement Mr Blinken would discuss "unprecedented irregular migration" in the western hemisphere and identify ways the two countries would "address border security challenges".

From BBC

He died even after receiving treatment, the first documented such instance in the western hemisphere.

From Salon

Analysts see this as an emerging new trend of trade regionalisation in the eastern and western hemispheres - each dominated by one of the superpower - that could pose risks to global growth.

From Reuters