southwestern

adjective

south·​west·​ern sau̇(th)-ˈwe-stərn 

1

: lying toward or coming from the southwest

2

often Southwestern : of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated Southwest

southwesternmost

sau̇(th)-ˈwe-stərn-ˌmōst 

adjective

Examples of southwestern in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In southwestern Pennsylvania, streams and creeks don't have the right elements for natural trout reproduction, said Tim Schaeffer, the commission's executive director. —Ricky Sayer, CBS News, 4 Apr. 2026

Iran has been unsuccessful in its search for the missing crew, the Iranian state news agency Tasnim said, adding that local traders in the southwestern Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province were offering a reward of 10 billion tomans ($76,000) for anyone who finds the crew alive. —Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 3 Apr. 2026

On April 4, a cold front heading east will bring risks of hail, heavy rain and damaging winds from Texas to southwestern New York, AccuWeather reported. —Jeanine Santucci, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026

The video, which circulated on social media Friday, shows three men wearing white shirts and black pants jumping out of a car beside a field in southwestern Iran. —Max Burman, NBC news, 3 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English sūth-westerne, from sūth south + westerne western

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing southwestern

• southwestern corn borer

Rhymes for southwestern

• northwestern
• western

Kids Definition

southwestern

adjective

south·​west·​ern sau̇(th)-ˈwes-tərn 

1

: lying toward or coming from the southwest

2

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