trade wind

noun

: a wind blowing almost constantly in one direction
especially : a wind blowing almost continually toward the equator from the northeast in the belt between the northern horse latitudes and the doldrums and from the southeast in the belt between the southern horse latitudes and the doldrums
usually used in plural

Examples of trade wind in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
During El Niño, trade winds weaken and warm water is pushed toward the west coast of North and South America. Hali Smith june 17, Idaho Statesman, 17 June 2026 El Niño occurs when trade winds weaken, allowing vast volumes of warm ocean water to move from the Eastern Pacific toward the Americas. Bill Chappell, NPR, 17 June 2026 Warmer waters and temperatures One of the ingredients of El Niño is triggered when the trade winds in the Pacific Ocean — winds that reliably blow from east to west — weaken. Los Angeles Times, 15 June 2026 Normally, trade winds push warm surface water west across the Pacific, piling it up near Asia and Australia while cooler water rises along South America. Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 15 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for trade wind

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of trade wind was in 1615

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Trade wind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade%20wind. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

trade wind

noun
: a wind blowing almost constantly toward the equator from an easterly direction

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