nor'easter

American  

[nawr-ee-ster] / ˌnɔrˈi stər /

noun

Meteorology.

1. an eastern North American storm that usually develops between the Georgia and New Jersey latitudes, progressing northeastward and typified by potentially violent northeast winds: most frequent and intense from September through April, nor’easters can develop within a hundred miles of the east coast and commonly bring heavy rain or snow and coastal damage.

   The nor’easter of 1992 breached the island and destroyed many homes.

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Etymology

Origin of nor'easter

First recorded in 1830–40; by shortening of northeaster

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

nor'easter

The historic nor’easter that’s pounded every state from Maine to West Virginia may finally be over, but the cleanup certainly ain’t.

From Slate ● Feb. 24, 2026

A nor’easter generally refers to a big storm, often in winter, that moves up the East Coast, Bassill said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 23, 2026

The storm is such a doozy that it qualifies as a nor’easter, a bomb cyclone and a blizzard, meteorologists said.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 23, 2026

New York Gov Kathy Hochul declared a state of emergency for the whole state ahead of the nor'easter storm and activated about 100 members of the National Guard.

From BBC ● Feb. 22, 2026

There was a nor’easter up and down the East Coast, bringing with it dense fog and high winds.

From "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell