'Western-leaning' originates from Modern English as a compound of the adjective 'western' and the present participle 'leaning' (from the verb 'lean').

'Western' comes from Old English 'westerne' (from 'west' + adjectival suffix '-ern'); 'lean' derives from Old English forms such as 'hlīnan'/'hlinan' and passed through Middle English into modern 'lean'. The compound form arose in modern usage by combining 'western' + 'leaning' to describe an inclination toward the West.

Individually, 'western' originally meant 'of the west' and 'lean' meant 'to incline'; combined, the phrase initially described a literal tilt toward the west and later developed the figurative sense of being inclined toward Western countries, values, or perspectives.