northwestern

adjective

north·​west·​ern nȯr(th)-ˈwe-stərn How to pronounce northwestern (audio)
1
often Northwestern : of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated Northwest
2
: lying toward or coming from the northwest
northwesternmost
nȯr(th)-ˈwe-stərn-ˌmōst How to pronounce northwestern (audio)
adjective

Examples of northwestern in a Sentence

the northwestern corner of the state
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In an industrial zone in Arteixo, at the furthest northwestern tip of Spain, amid granite quarries and aluminum merchants, Inditex, the company that owns Zara, has built a city of glass. — Gaby Wood, Vogue, 17 Aug. 2026 Kansas City’s next chance of severe weather could come Tuesday, as a storm system develops Monday night over northwestern Nebraska and western South Dakota. — Kansas City Star, 17 Aug. 2026 Placer is a Republican county that stretches from the Sacramento suburbs to the northwestern shores of Lake Tahoe. — Nicholas Riccardi, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2026 Renewed flood danger Friday Iowa and northwestern Illinois face the greatest risk of flooding rain Friday — a Level 3 of 4 — but more storms are targeting communities in Indiana and Ohio already soaked this week. — Dalia Faheid, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for northwestern

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of northwestern was in 1577

Rhymes for northwestern

See All Rhymes for northwestern

Browse Nearby Words

northwesterly
northwestern
northwestern anthracnose
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Northwestern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/northwestern. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

northwestern

adjective
north·​west·​ern nȯrth-ˈwes-tərn How to pronounce northwestern (audio)
1
often capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Northwest
2
: lying toward or coming from the northwest

More from Merriam-Webster on northwestern

Nglish: Translation of northwestern for Spanish Speakers

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