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

For example, the southerly route misses Cancun, Mexico, and the northerly path flies between Jacksonville and Orlando, Florida. —Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 20 Sep. 2025

The airline opts for an unusual southerly flight path, across some of the world’s most remote waters and close to Antarctica, a choice that China Eastern says will help shave at least four hours off the total journey. —Chris Lau, CNN Money, 17 Sep. 2025

Noun

These views captured from Surabaya, Indonesia by photographer Robertus Pudyanto reveal the same phases captured from a more southerly perspective, once again showing the lunar disk transform in the runup to totality. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2025

This was a southerly trajectory launch. —Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 18 Aug. 2025

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