northwest

American  

[nawrth-west, nawr-west] / ˌnɔrθˈwɛst, ˌnɔrˈwɛst /

noun

1. a point on the compass midway between north and west. NW

2. a region in this direction.

3. the Northwest,

   1. the northwestern part of the United States, especially Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

   2. the northwestern part of the United States when its western boundary was the Mississippi River.

   3. the northwestern part of Canada.

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adjective

1. coming from the northwest.

   a northwest wind.

2. directed toward the northwest.

   sailing a northwest course.

adverb

1. from the northwest.

2. toward the northwest.

   sailing northwest.

northwest ¹ British  

/ ˌnɔːθˈwɛst, ˌnɔːˈwɛst /

noun

1. the point of the compass or direction midway between north and west, 315° clockwise from north

2. (often capital) any area lying in or towards this direction

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adjective

1. (sometimes capital) of or denoting the northwestern part of a specified country, area, etc

   northwest Greenland

adjective

1. in, to, towards, or (esp of the wind) from the northwest

Northwest ² British  

/ ˌnɔːθˈwɛst /

noun

1. the northwestern part of England, esp Lancashire and the Lake District

2. the northwestern part of the US, consisting of the states of Washington, Oregon, and sometimes Idaho

3. (in Canada) the region north and west of the Great Lakes

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Other Word Forms

• northwestern adjective
• northwesternmost adjective

Etymology

Origin of northwest

before 900; Middle English, Old English; north, west

Example Sentences

Council District 12 covers the northwest portion of the San Fernando Valley ,which includes the neighborhoods of Chatsworth, Granada Hills, Northridge and Porter Ranch.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

Iranian authorities have arrested at least 20 people in the country's northwest province of West Azerbaijan on suspicion of cooperating with Israel, Iranian media reported.

From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026

Temple Israel is a Reform Jewish synagogue in West Bloomfield Township about 20 miles northwest of Detroit.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 12, 2026

The Met Office yellow warning for snow and ice across central and northwest Scotland is in place until 09:00 GMT.

From BBC • Mar. 12, 2026

When the morning came, a northwest breeze brought warmer air, raising the temperature almost up to the freezing point, but with rain and sleet falling, the men were still covered in ice.

From "Shipwreck at the Bottom of the World" by Jennifer Armstrong