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

This elevated layer is then carried westward by strong easterly trade winds across the Atlantic. — Brandi D. Addison, USA Today, 14 July 2026

When the east-to-west trade winds weaken, the sea level rises a tad in the western Pacific and creates what’s called a downwelling oceanic Kelvin wave, said Jon Gottschalck, the Climate Prediction Center’s operational prediction branch chief. — Los Angeles Times, 13 July 2026

El Niños roll in periodically and last nine to 12 months as Pacific trade winds weaken and push warm water back toward the West Coast, coaxing the jet stream lower. — Evan Clark, Footwear News, 13 July 2026

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

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for trade wind

• underpinned
• chagrined
• downwind
• rescind
• upwind
• whirlwind
• woodwind
• finned
• ginned
• grinned
• pinned
• sinned

Kids Definition

trade wind

noun

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