Northern Hemisphere

American  

noun

1. the half of the earth between the North Pole and the equator.

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northern hemisphere British  

noun

1. that half of the globe lying north of the equator

2. astronomy that half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator

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Northern Hemisphere Scientific  

/ nôr′thərn /

1. The half of the Earth north of the equator.

2. The half of the celestial sphere north of the celestial equator.

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Northern Hemisphere Cultural  

1. The northern half of the Earth's surface; the half north of the equator.

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Etymology

Origin of Northern Hemisphere

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

He added many crop planting decisions have already been missed with the Northern Hemisphere already in planting seasons, meaning those yields will not be recovered.

From Barron's • Apr. 10, 2026

Of those, vessels carrying key products like fertilizers would have priority, especially as the Northern Hemisphere prepares for planting season, she said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

For many people across the Northern Hemisphere, like Rowe, this holiday season was interrupted by an unwanted visitor: influenza.

From Salon • Jan. 8, 2026

The comparison also revealed shared emission hotspots, including Equatorial Asia, Northern Hemisphere Africa, and Southeast Asia.

From Science Daily • Jan. 7, 2026

It’s huge—actually eight posters that I taped together—and shows all the major stars, constellations, and sections of the Milky Way visible from the Northern Hemisphere.

From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon