meridional: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Literary
Quick answer
What does “meridional” mean?
Relating to the south.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Relating to the south; characteristic of the southern part of a region, especially Southern Europe.
1. Pertaining to a meridian; longitudinal. 2. (Meteorology) A southerly wind. 3. (Figurative) Exhibiting qualities stereotypically associated with the south of a region (e.g., warmth, passion, slower pace).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In British English, it is more likely to refer specifically to Southern Europe (e.g., 'meridional Europe'). In American English, it can describe the southern US ('meridional states') but is rarer and more formal. The meteorological sense for a southerly wind is more common in technical British writing.
Connotations
UK: Often carries connotations of a distinct Mediterranean or Southern European culture/climate. US: May imply the 'Old South' or simply a formal synonym for 'southern'.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both varieties. More likely encountered in academic geography, history, or literature than in everyday speech.
Grammar
How to Use “meridional” in a Sentence
be + meridionalhave a + meridional + character/climateof + meridional + originVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “meridional” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A. There is no verb form.
American English
- N/A. There is no verb form.
adverb
British English
- N/A. The adverbial form 'meridionally' is exceedingly rare and technical.
- The glacier extended meridionally for over fifty kilometres.
American English
- N/A. The adverbial form 'meridionally' is exceedingly rare and technical.
- The fault line runs meridionally through the state.
adjective
British English
- The meridional shores of Italy have a distinctly different climate.
- A strong meridional wind brought unseasonably warm air from the south.
American English
- The architecture showed clear meridional influences from its Spanish past.
- The research vessel studied the meridional overturning circulation in the Atlantic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in geography (meridional flow), history/cultural studies (meridional cultures), and astronomy.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would sound pretentious or highly formal.
Technical
Used in meteorology, oceanography, and astronomy to denote alignment along a north-south axis.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “meridional”
- Using it as a common synonym for 'southern' in casual contexts. Confusing it with 'meridian' (the noun). Pronouncing it /ˌmerɪˈdaɪənəl/ (like 'meridian' + 'al').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In its core geographical sense, yes, but it is much more formal and carries specific connotations, especially relating to Southern Europe. In technical contexts (meteorology, astronomy), it refers to alignment along a north-south axis.
The direct formal antonym is 'septentrional' (northern). More common antonyms are 'northern' or 'boreal'.
You can, but it is very formal and literary. Terms like 'the American South', 'Southern US', or 'Dixie' are far more common. Using 'meridional' might sound affected or like a direct translation from another language.
Use it only in appropriate formal or technical contexts (academic writing, geography). In everyday conversation or informal writing, simply use 'southern'.
Relating to the south.
Meridional is usually formal, academic, literary in register.
Meridional: in British English it is pronounced /məˈrɪdɪənəl/, and in American English it is pronounced /məˈrɪdiənəl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No common idioms. The word itself is used descriptively.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the MERIDI-an (like the PRIME MERIDIAN, a north-south line) and add '-onal' for 'relating to'. It relates to the north-south line, hence 'southern'.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOUTH IS WARM / PASSIONATE / SLOW. The word often maps cultural stereotypes onto a cardinal direction.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'meridional' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?