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

They were quickly followed by videos of search-and-rescue aircraft flying low over the mountains of southwestern Iran. —Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 10 Apr. 2026

Look to the upper left of Venus to find Jupiter, the second brightest object in the night sky, glowing in the constellation Gemini, with Sirius — the brightest star in the night sky — shining off to the left, close to the southwestern horizon. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 Apr. 2026

With 22 National Park Service monuments, parks, recreation areas, and historic sites, the Southwestern state is filled with incredible wonders—one of which is Saguaro National Park. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2026

Residents moving from out of state accounted for 93% of population growth in northern Idaho and 82% of in southwestern Idaho. —Mark Dee april 9, Idaho Statesman, 9 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