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

Iran’s most powerful militia proxy, Hezbollah in Israel’s northern neighbor Lebanon, sat out the whole war, having endured a fatal bludgeoning by Israel in the September-November 2024 conflict. —Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Progress with Canada has been a roller coaster, starting with the U.S. president poking at the nation’s northern neighbor and repeatedly suggesting it would be absorbed as a U.S. state. —Rob Gillies, Los Angeles Times, 30 June 2025

Noun

Clemens told us the water there was 150 feet deep, with concentrations of big northerns, walleyes, and muskies. —Don Shiner, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2025

Dozens of log pilings were sticking a foot or so above the water, ideal for bass and northerns. —Don Shiner, Outdoor Life, 14 May 2025

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