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

The Pittsburgh Walk of Fame was launched last fall as a way of recognizing and honoring people with ties to southwestern Pennsylvania who have had an impact on America's culture and heritage. — Mike Darnay, CBS News, 13 Oct. 2026

With this image, researchers can better understand this landmark in Namibia, a nation in southwestern Africa. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026

The crosses to which the title alludes are, in fact, plane trees on the grounds of a fictional concentration camp called Westhofen, in southwestern Germany. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026

Meanwhile, the hurricane was dumping rain over parts of southwestern Mexico. — Fernando Llano, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 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