oc·ci·den·tal ˌäk-sə-ˈden-tᵊl 
variants often Occidental
1
: of, relating to, or situated in the Occident : western
2
: of or relating to Occidentals
occidentally adverb
: a member of one of the occidental peoples
especially : a person of European ancestry
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The Latin Origins of Oriental and Occidental
The word oriental derives from the Latin orient-, oriens, meaning "the east" or "the part of the sky where the sun rises." Occidental, in contrast, derives from the Latin occident-, occidens, meaning "the west" or "the part of the sky where the sun sets." The geographical regions known as "the Orient" and "the Occident" are named for their positions relative to one another—east and west, respectively.
Examples of occidental in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Adrian Van Hauwermeiren, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2025 Is there a more terrifying, fascinating, weirdly appealing time in the occidental imagination than the Middle Ages? —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2023
Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025 Officers responded just before 1:30 a.m. to a report of a man armed with a sword on the 3100 block of Occidental Drive near Julliard Drive. —Sacbee.com, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for occidental
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Occidental shares fell more than 7% on Thursday. —Adrian Van Hauwermeiren, CNBC, 2 Oct. 2025 Is there a more terrifying, fascinating, weirdly appealing time in the occidental imagination than the Middle Ages? —Sara Holdren, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2023
Noun
The vessel was detected about 80 miles off the coast of Cabra Island, in the Philippine province of Occidental Mindoro. —Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 July 2025 Officers responded just before 1:30 a.m. to a report of a man armed with a sword on the 3100 block of Occidental Drive near Julliard Drive. —Sacbee.com, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for occidental
Cite this Entry
“Occidental.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.grautoblog.com/dictionary/occidental. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
occidental
1 of 2 adjective
oc·ci·den·tal ˌäk-sə-ˈdent-ᵊl
often capitalized
1
: of, relating to, or located in the Occident : western
2
: of or relating to Occidentals
Occidental
2 of 2 noun
: a person of European ancestry
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