Windy City
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does Windy City mean? Windy City is a popular nickname for Chicago, Illinois. How is Windy City pronounced?[ win-dee sit-ee ]
Etymology
Origin of Windy City
First recorded in 1855–60
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In 2017, “The Hills” alum and her now-ex-husband, former Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, left the Windy City in pursuit of a “great place” to raise their family.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 16, 2026
It’s as if the Windy City were suddenly known for mild winters and thin-crust pizza.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
It just gives you a funny feeling that they've got something special rolling in the Windy City.
From BBC ● Jan. 17, 2026
Northwestern’s lakeside stadium might qualify Evanston, Ill., as the Windy City given the strong gusts that have changed the trajectory of passes.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2025
She’s had her fun, her little party, all those distractions in the Windy City, but there are a lot of miles of farmland in between Illinois and Pittsburgh.
From "A Heart in a Body in the World" by Deb Caletti
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
