southwestern

adjective

south·​west·​ern sau̇(th)-ˈwe-stərn 

1

: lying toward or coming from the southwest

2

often capitalized : 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 drones were operating near Japan's southwestern islands, including one that transited the 67-mile-wide Yonaguni Gap, between Taiwan's east coast and Japan's westernmost island of Yonaguni, from the Philippine Sea to the East China Sea. —Kristan Hawkins, Newsweek, 7 Feb. 2025

Immigration: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth vowed during a visit to the southwestern border to use thousands of U.S. active-duty troops to help stem migrant crossings. —Zolan Kanno-Youngs, New York Times, 6 Feb. 2025

David was born to Harry and Leona Noyes and grew up on a farm in southwestern Minnesota as the eldest boy of eleven children. —Contributed Content, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025

Climate change is shrinking surface and groundwater supplies in the southwestern U.S. Higher air temperatures are increasing evaporation rates from rivers and streams and intensifying drought. —Gabriel Eckstein, The Conversation, 5 Feb. 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

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