Windy City
Americannoun
noun
Usage
What does Windy City mean? Windy City is a popular nickname for Chicago, Illinois. How is Windy City pronounced?[ win-dee sit-ee ]
Etymology
Origin of Windy City
First recorded in 1855–60
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It just gives you a funny feeling that they've got something special rolling in the Windy City.
From BBC • Jan. 17, 2026
It’s a charming barrio, and it’s been under siege, like many other neighborhoods in the Windy City.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 9, 2025
The couple, who wed in 2023, have been splitting their time between the Windy City, where they now have a home, and Texas, where Biles is originally from.
From MarketWatch • Oct. 23, 2025
It features a stellar lineup including guitarist Jeff Parker, who had recently relocated from the Windy City to Los Angeles, as well as bassist Ben Shepherd and vibraphonist Justin Thomas.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 21, 2025
The lake makes it windy, hence its appellation: the Windy City.
From "Orphan Train" by Christina Baker Kline
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
