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

“We believe the resulting cost relief could offset a significant portion of the revenue headwind and may ultimately prove more impactful than the reimbursement cap itself,” Deutsche Bank writes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 13, 2026

That kind of headwind isn’t reflected in tech’s current sky-high multiples.

From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 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

Washington sliced across the finish line four and a half lengths ahead of California, and almost twenty seconds ahead of the freshman course record, despite the headwind.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown