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

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Etymology

Origin of northern

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English; see north, -ern

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

northern

Most notably, they created apprenticeship programs across various departments — including camera, sound, production design, catering — to teach Inuit and other local northern residents about the filmmaking process.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026

Ms. Ferrer’s wide-ranging history uncovers the deep links between the island and its northern neighbor that have existed since the era when Havana was larger than any city in the 13 colonies.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026

After an excessively dry summer, black truffles are becoming few and far between in the misty hills of the Piedmont region in northern Italy.

From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2026

A touch of frost will be possible in sheltered areas in the northern half of the UK.

From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2026

Meanwhile, clergymen, college presidents, and other self-appointed spokesmen for communal standards of morality seized upon the Burr-Hamilton encounter to launch a crusade against dueling throughout most of the northern states.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

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