What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
west
Example
The sun sets in the west. [west: noun]
Example
We drove west to reach the coast. [west: adverb]
occident
Example
The occident has a long history of democracy and human rights. [occident: noun]
Example
The Renaissance was a significant period in occidental art and culture. [occidental: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
West is more commonly used than occident in everyday language. West is a simple and straightforward word that covers a wide range of contexts, while occident is more formal and specific to the western world.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between west and occident?
Occident is a more formal and academic word that is typically used in scholarly or intellectual contexts. West is more versatile and can be employed in both formal and informal contexts.
