southerly

American  

[suhth-er-lee] / ˈsʌð ər li /

adjective

1. toward the south.

   a southerly course.

2. (especially of a wind) coming from the south.

   a gentle southerly breeze.

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noun

southerlies plural

1. a wind that blows from the south.

southerly British  

/ ˈsʌðəlɪ /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or situated in the south

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adverb

1. towards or in the direction of the south

2. from the south

   a southerly wind

noun

1. a wind from the south

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• southerliness
  noun

Inflected Forms

noun

• southerlies
  plural

Etymology

Origin of southerly

1545–55; south + -erly ( see easterly)

Example Sentences

With this source region primed with higher temperatures, a more frequent southerly air flow transports it to the UK.

From BBC • May 28, 2026

That will bring southerly winds from the subtropics - and a very different feel.

From BBC • May 13, 2026

However, through this week a warmer southerly wind will draw up air from the Mediterranean and bring temperatures around 6 or 7 degrees above average on Wednesday.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

As the storm tracked eastward into the western Mediterranean, it drew up warm southerly winds from North Africa, lifting fine Saharan dust high into the atmosphere.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

He trundled out the door and around the back of the cottage, heading for the southerly woods.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman