southwest

American  

[south-west, sou-west] / ˌsaʊθˈwɛst, ˌsaʊˈwɛst /

noun

1. the point or direction midway between south and west. SW

2. a region in this direction.

3. the Southwest, the southwest region of the United States.

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adjective

1. lying toward, situated in, or directed toward the southwest.

2. coming from the southwest, as a wind.

adverb

1. in the direction midway between south and west.

southwest ¹ British  

/ ˌsaʊˈwɛst, ˌsaʊθˈwɛst /

noun

1. the point of the compass or the direction midway between west and south, 225° clockwise from north

2. any area lying in or towards this direction

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adjective

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

   southwest Italy

2. situated in or towards the southwest

3. (esp of the wind) from the southwest

adverb

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

Southwest ² British  

/ ˌsaʊθˈwɛst /

noun

1. the southwestern part of Britain, esp Cornwall, Devon, and Somerset

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Other Word Forms

• southwestern adjective
• southwesternmost adjective

Etymology

Origin of southwest

before 900; Middle English; Old English sūthwest. See south, west

Example Sentences

The 42-year-old from southwest China does not engage in political satire -- a minefield in the country that can lead to account suspension -- but has amassed millions of followers across Instagram, TikTok and Chinese platforms.

From Barron's

One of the most recent notable land trades between states was Pakistan’s purchase of Gwadar, a port enclave in the country’s southwest, for $3 million from the Sultanate of Muscat and Oman in 1958.

From The Wall Street Journal

"We apologise to the less wealthy people in the southwest of Berlin," a lengthy statement read.

From BBC

"All 116 injured people have been identified. Eighty-three of them are still hospitalised," the Wallis cantonal police in southwest Switzerland said Monday in a statement.

From Barron's

The teenagers' coffins were transported from a funeral centre in Sion, southwest Switzerland, to the military section of the city's airport.

From Barron's