southwestern

adjective

south·​west·​ern sau̇(th)-ˈwe-stərn How to pronounce southwestern (audio)
1
: lying toward or coming from the southwest
2
often Southwestern : of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated Southwest
southwesternmost
sau̇(th)-ˈwe-stərn-ˌmōst How to pronounce southwestern (audio)
adjective

Examples of southwestern in a Sentence

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.
Their archaeological sites contain turquoise, southwestern-style pottery, and obsidian from hundreds of kilometers to the west. — ArsTechnica, 27 Aug. 2026 Various Indigenous peoples across the southwestern United States as well as Central and South America have harvested cacao plants for millennia. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 Aug. 2026 Ayrshire doesn’t get the headlines or rapturous odes that the Highlands do, but this rugged coastal stretch in southwestern Scotland is filled with under-the-radar gems like Glenapp Castle. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Aug. 2026 In particular, genetic analyses classify the virus as a coronavirus, specifically within a group found naturally in horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus); these bat species inhabit areas across southern, southwestern, and eastern regions of China. — Encyclopedia Britannica, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for southwestern

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English sūth-westerne, from sūth south + westerne western

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of southwestern was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing southwestern

Rhymes for southwestern

See All Rhymes for southwestern

Browse Nearby Words

southwesterly
southwestern
southwestern corn borer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Southwestern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southwestern. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

southwestern

adjective
south·​west·​ern sau̇(th)-ˈwes-tərn How to pronounce southwestern (audio)
1
: lying toward or coming from the southwest
2
often capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Southwest
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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