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; north, -ern

Example Sentences

Maral, a student in her 20s in the city of Rasht in northern Iran, has become very frustrated with her father for his continued support of the war.

From BBC

Her brother, flying missions in northern France, experienced the very same passion in a different environment.

From The Wall Street Journal

He had also already said displaced residents would not be allowed back until northern Israel was safe and that houses would be demolished.

From BBC

When it was announced in 2023, the previous Conservative government said the £476m package would fund a new detention centre in France and hundreds of extra law enforcement officers on France's northern shores.

From BBC

Kwankwaso brings a fresh appeal to the coalition and has a large support base in the mainly Muslim northern Nigeria, a key voting bloc in national elections.

From BBC