trade winds

American  

[trayd windz] / ˈtreɪd ˌwɪndz /

plural noun

singular

trade wind

1. tropical and subtropical winds that blow continuously toward the equator, from the northeast in the northern hemisphere and from the southeast in the southern hemisphere.

---

trade winds Scientific  

/ trād /

1. Winds that blow steadily from east to west and toward the equator over most of the Torrid Zone. The trade winds are caused by hot air rising at the equator, with cool air moving in to take its place from the north and from the south. The winds are deflected westward because of the Earth's west-to-east rotation.

2. Compare antitrades

---

Other Word Forms

• trade-wind adjective

Example Sentences

El Nino can weaken consistent trade winds that blow east to west across the tropical Pacific, influencing weather by affecting the movement of warm water across this vast ocean.

From Barron's • Mar. 2, 2026

The science here is most compelling when Selby spins thermal columns, updrafts, trade winds and cloud formations into a history of California’s cities and often manmade geography.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 19, 2024

El Niño affects weather worldwide due to weakened trade winds in the Pacific Ocean and often results in warmer summers in the Northern Hemisphere.

From Science Daily • May 14, 2024

In 2023 the trade winds never fully kicked in, which contributed to record water temperatures off the Pacific and Atlantic coasts of Panama.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 7, 2024

As the trade winds pushed her farther west she gathered humidity and power.

From "Storm Runners" by Roland Smith