headwind

American  

[hed-wind] / ˈhɛdˌwɪnd /

noun

1. a wind opposed to the course of a moving object, especially an aircraft or other vehicle (opposed to tailwind).

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headwind British  

/ ˈhɛdˌwɪnd /

noun

1. a wind blowing directly against the course of an aircraft or ship Compare tailwind

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headwind Scientific  

/ hĕd′wĭnd′ /

1. A wind blowing directly against the course of a moving object, especially an aircraft or ship.

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Etymology

Origin of headwind

First recorded in 1780–90; (a)head + wind ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

headwind

“This one I would predict might last longer than previous ones just because of the numbers. It’s got quite a headwind, but you know it’s not something that would become endemic,” Bailey said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

It’s also a headwind for Alnylam, whose Amvuttra treatment will remain the only gene silencer for ATTR-CM, the analysts write, although long-term questions remain for the company’s next-generation silencer.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026

Another major headwind has been the AI trade, which has attracted significant attention and capital away from crypto, said Shubh Varma, co-founder and chief executive of Hyblock Capital.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 30, 2026

Bernstein analyst Zhihan Ma warns that inflation will still be a headwind, as “the second degree impact has yet to play out.”

From Barron's ● Jun. 29, 2026

The next moment, without warning, the headwind dropped dramatically, and they were traveling much too fast to make the runway.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell