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

    <documentType>4/A</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-05-16</periodOfReport><dateOfOriginalSubmission>2003-05-20</dateOfOriginalSubmission>
    <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>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></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.  Reporting person is co-chairman of Providence Media Services, Inc.</footnote><footnote id="F2">In addition, the reporting person owns 470,000 shares directly and may be deemed to own 213,490 shares indirectly through the Family Foundation, a non-profit private foundation, for which the reporting person serves as president and a director.  The reporting person disclaims beneficial ownership of all securities held by the Family Foundation, and this report shall not be deemed an admission that the reporting person is the beneficial owner of these shares for purposes of Section 16 or for any other purpose.</footnote></footnotes><ownerSignature><signatureName>Jeffrey A. ChristiansonAttorney-in-fact</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-05-27</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

