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

See Examples For:

northern

A passenger boat with some 270 people on board has capsized off northern Cyprus, with a search and rescue operation under way.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

Days before that, she reportedly traveled with Trump to South Carolina for a campaign rally and to his northern Virginia golf club.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 30, 2026

Vietnam's durian exports are expected to reach $4 billion this year, up from $180 million in 2021 -- 90 percent of them going to its northern neighbour.

From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026

Given the downpours already this week, some parts of the Midlands and northern England are more susceptible to the risk of flash flooding.

From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026

I pull out my compass and walk to the northern edge of the firebreak, then stop and listen—nothing but some birds, the wind in the leaves.

From "Wayward Creatures" by Dayna Lorentz