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

Anconcito is on the southwestern coast of Ecuador. —Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025

Widespread wind gusts of 20 to 30 mph are expected, with gusts greater than 40 mph possible in some areas south of Interstate 70 and west of Sedalia, in the southwestern corner of the Kansas City forecast area, the weather service said. —Kansas City Star, 4 Nov. 2025

In July 2025, China announced what is expected to be the world’s largest hydropower dam, the Motuo Hydropower Station in the Tibet Autonomous Region in southwestern China. —Pintu Kumar Mahla, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025

Iberian lynxes are found on southwestern Europe's Iberian Peninsula and are often identified by the tufts of fur under their chins. —Charlotte Phillipp, PEOPLE, 3 Nov. 2025

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