<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0101</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-16</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000930738</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>WESTERN WIRELESS CORP</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>WWCA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner><reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001035233</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>NELSON JONATHAN M</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>  </rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>  </rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>  </rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>  </rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>  </rptOwnerZipCode>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>0</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeSecurity><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-05-16</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType><transactionCode>S</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>1854</value></transactionShares><transactionValue><value>8.62</value></transactionValue><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>By Providence Media Services, Inc.</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeSecurity><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Securities held by Providence Media Services, Inc. that the reporting person may be deemed to beneficially own.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jeffrey A. ChristiansonAttorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-20</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

