northwestern

adjective

north·​west·​ern nȯr(th)-ˈwe-stərn 

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 

adjective

Examples of northwestern in a Sentence

the northwestern corner of the state

Recent Examples on the Web

When a truck struck a support beam, a portion of a bridge over the Skagit River in northwestern Washington state collapsed into the river. —USA Today, 6 May 2026

But the northwestern Ohio district was redrawn in October 2025, creating a more Republican-leaning seat ahead of November. —Caitlin Yilek, CBS News, 6 May 2026

Procopio suggests a trip to the city of El Alamein, a coastal town in northwestern Egypt, with a stopover in the Siwa Desert. —Jessica Sulima, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026

The president of the Canary Islands, a Spanish archipelago off the northwestern coast of Africa, said on Wednesday that the regional government was opposed to allowing the luxury cruise ship to dock in Tenerife. —Dragana Jovanovic, ABC News, 6 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1577, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for northwestern

• southwestern
• western

Kids Definition

northwestern

adjective

north·​west·​ern nȯrth-ˈwes-tərn 

1

often capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Northwest

2

: lying toward or coming from the northwest