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

France's weather service warned Saturday that strong storms could mark the end of a record-breaking heatwave blamed for a number of deaths across northern Europe.

From Barron's • May 30, 2026

The group trekked from northern Georgia—and by midafternoon on the day of their visit they had yet to go on a single ride.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

The finding adds to growing evidence that unenlagiids occupied ecological roles different from those of their more famous northern relatives.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2026

Hilton was favored over the two Democrats among self-identified libertarians and among voters in Orange County, the Central Valley and northern coast and Sierra region.

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

The soccer field had become the plains of northern Kenya, the great savanna.

From "Facing the Lion" by Joseph Lemasolai Lekuton and Herman Viola