trade wind

noun

: a wind blowing almost constantly in one direction

especially : a wind blowing almost continually toward the equator from the northeast in the belt between the northern horse latitudes and the doldrums and from the southeast in the belt between the southern horse latitudes and the doldrums

—usually used in plural

Examples of trade wind in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Giannis Antetokounmpo trade winds are spinning the deer to a new frontier. —Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026

The western islands are steeper, higher and shaped by varied microclimates created by altitude and cooling trade winds. —Emily Price, Forbes.com, 24 Jan. 2026

The configuration not only creates an ultra-private setting but also helps shield the pool from Hawaii’s prevailing trade winds. —Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 22 Jan. 2026

Draping from doorways, light linens billow in the trade winds, and colobus monkeys scamper in treetops overhead. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 31 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for trade wind

• underpinned
• chagrined
• crosswind
• downwind
• rescind
• upwind
• whirlwind
• woodwind
• finned
• ginned
• grinned
• pinned

Kids Definition

trade wind

noun

: a wind blowing almost constantly toward the equator from an easterly direction