northern

American  

[nawr-thern] / ˈnɔr ðərn /

adjective

1. lying toward or situated in the north.

2. directed or proceeding northward.

3. coming from the north, as a wind.

4. Often Northern of or relating to the North, especially the northern United States.

5. Astronomy. north of the celestial equator or of the zodiac.

   a northern constellation.

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noun

1. a person living in a northern region or country.

2. Northern, a steam locomotive having a four-wheeled front truck, eight driving wheels, and a four-wheeled rear truck.

northern British  

/ ˈnɔːðən /

adjective

1. situated in or towards the north

   northern towns

2. directed or proceeding towards the north

   a northern flow of traffic

3. (esp of winds) proceeding from the north

4. (sometimes capital) of, relating to, or characteristic of the north or North

5. (sometimes capital) astronomy north of the celestial equator

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Other Word Forms

• northernness noun
• pro-Northern adjective
• unnorthern adjective

Etymology

Origin of northern

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; see north, -ern

Example Sentences

What’s Next: While AST SpaceMobile currently has six satellites in orbit, it is targeting approximately 45 orbital satellites by the end of 2026 to offer a commercial service in northern latitudes.

From Barron's • Apr. 20, 2026

Thousands of people were evacuated from a northern suburb of Paris while a World War Two bomb was rendered safe on Sunday.

From BBC • Apr. 19, 2026

CNN stationed a reporter at Dulles Airport in northern Virginia to send live updates from the runway where his flight was scheduled to land.

From Slate • Apr. 19, 2026

The findings indicate this lost landscape may have served as a welcoming refuge for plants, animals, and possibly humans long before forests became common across Britain and northern Europe.

From Science Daily • Apr. 17, 2026

The roseroot grew low to the ground along the northern fence, its fleshy leaves lining a stem topped with brushlike yellow flowers.

From Anya and the Nightingale by Sofiya Pasternack