northern

1 of 2

adjective

north·​ern ˈnȯr-t͟hərn 

ˈnȯr-t͟hən

1

capitalized

a

: of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated North

b

: of, relating to, or constituting the northern dialect

2

a

: lying toward the north

b

: coming from the north

a northern storm

northern

2 of 2

noun

1

capitalized : the dialect of English spoken in the part of the U.S. north of a line running northwest through central New Jersey, below the northern tier of counties in Pennsylvania, through northern Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, across central Iowa, and through the northwest corner of South Dakota

2

: pike entry 3 sense 1a

Examples of northern in a Sentence

Adjective

the northern part of the state

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Along with the original 13 colonies, the new country now included territory that stretched all the way to the Mississippi River, to the western edges of what would become Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee and the northern part of Mississippi. —Boyce Upholt, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 June 2024

Servizio Stampa Africa Orientale A French (Corsican) journalist records episodes of war in northern Ethiopia. —Foreign Affairs, 10 June 2024

Noun

For northern pike, the DNR hopes to foster large sizes by disallowing anyone from keeping a northern that exceeds 30 inches. —Tony Kennedy, Star Tribune, 25 Mar. 2021

Most puffers have very tiny mouths, and northerns are no exception. —Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 23 Aug. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English northerne, from Old English; akin to Old High German nordrōni northern, Old English north north

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing northern

• great northern bean
• northern corn rootworm
• northern fur seal
• northern giant hornet
• northern harrier
• northern hemisphere
• northern lights
• northern minke whale
• northern oriole
• northern pike
• northern spotted owl
• northern white cedar

Kids Definition

northern

adjective

north·​ern

ˈnȯr-t͟hə(r)n

1

capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of the North

2

: lying toward or coming from the north

a northern storm

northernmost

-ˌmōst

adjective