southerly

1 of 2

adjective or adverb

south·​er·​ly ˈsə-t͟hər-lē 

1

: situated toward or belonging to the south

the southerly shore of the lake

2

: coming from the south

a southerly wind

southerly

2 of 2

noun

plural southerlies

: a wind from the south

Examples of southerly in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective or adverb

With a more southerly flow, expect an uptick in humidity, especially this weekend. —Michael Autovino, CBS News, 12 May 2026

Ahead of it, warm, humid air will surge in, pushing dew points into the low to mid-60s across the Kansas City metro, along with southerly gusts up to 30 to 35 mph. —Kansas City Star, 22 Apr. 2026

Noun

One change SpaceX is introducing on this launch is a more southerly flight path over the Gulf of Mexico, taking the rocket between the northeastern coast of the Yucatan Peninsula and the western tip of Cuba, instead of over the Florida Straits. —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 12 May 2026

At the same time, southerly winds will pull more moisture into the area, making the air feel more humid. —Kansas City Star, 12 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective or adverb

south entry 3 + -erly (as in easterly)

First Known Use

Adjective Or Adverb

1550, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Noun

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for southerly

• brotherly
• motherly

Kids Definition

southerly

adverb or adjective

south·​er·​ly

ˈsət͟h-ər-lē

1

: toward the south

2

: coming from the south