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

Tarleton State, which is part of the Texas A&M University system, expanded its campus in southwestern Fort Worth and plans to double enrollment by 2030. —Kate Marijolovic, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Mar. 2025

Dusky Sound is along the southwestern coast of New Zealand’s South Island and on the opposite end of the country from Auckland. —Aspen Pflughoeft, Miami Herald, 18 Mar. 2025

The Tri-State Tornado struck southeastern Missouri, southern Illinois and southwestern Indiana on March 18, 1925, resulting in 695 deaths, more than 2,000 injuries and a path length of 219 miles stretching from southeast Missouri across southern Illinois into southwest Indiana. —Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025

Three more such fairs have since been held, including in the southwestern metropolis of Chengdu. —Marc Stewart, CNN, 15 Mar. 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

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