southwesterly: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal/Technical (especially in meteorology, navigation, geography)
Quick answer
What does “southwesterly” mean?
Situated in, directed towards, or coming from the southwest.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Situated in, directed towards, or coming from the southwest.
Used to describe direction, orientation, movement, or the origin of something (especially wind). In nautical contexts, it can refer to a specific wind direction or storm.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant semantic differences. Slightly more common in British English due to greater focus on detailed weather reporting and maritime usage.
Connotations
Neutral, descriptive. In both varieties, strongly associated with weather forecasts and directional descriptions.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech; higher frequency in specialised contexts like weather reports, sailing, aviation, and geography.
Grammar
How to Use “southwesterly” in a Sentence
[Direction] + be + southwesterlyA southwesterly + [Noun (wind/direction)]travel/move/head in a southwesterly directionVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “southwesterly” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- The weather front is moving southwesterly at about 20 knots.
American English
- They hiked southwesterly through the valley for two days.
adjective
British English
- A persistent southwesterly airstream will bring milder air across the UK.
American English
- The plane adjusted to a southwesterly heading to reach its destination.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in logistics or shipping (e.g., 'The cargo ship took a southwesterly route to avoid the storm').
Academic
Used in geography, climatology, and environmental science papers to describe precise wind patterns or directional trends.
Everyday
Mostly in weather forecasts ('It will be a cloudy day with a fresh southwesterly wind').
Technical
Essential in meteorology, aviation, and maritime navigation for precise directional communication.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “southwesterly”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “southwesterly”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “southwesterly”
- Using 'southwesternly' (incorrect blending of 'southwestern' and '-ly').
- Using as a noun for a location ('We live in a southwesterly suburb' – incorrect; use 'southwestern').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Southwesterly' describes direction, movement, or origin (especially of wind). 'Southwestern' describes a fixed location or region (e.g., the southwestern part of a country).
Yes, but it's less common. As a noun, it means 'a wind blowing from the southwest' (e.g., 'A stiff southwesterly filled the sails').
It is not common in everyday conversation but is standard and frequently used in specialised fields like meteorology, navigation, and geography.
In British English: /ˌsaʊθˈwɛstəli/. In American English: /ˌsaʊθˈwɛstərli/. The main difference is the treatment of the unstressed vowel before the 'l'.
Situated in, directed towards, or coming from the southwest.
Southwesterly is usually formal/technical (especially in meteorology, navigation, geography) in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None specific”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Combine 'SOUTH' + 'WEST' + '-ERLY' (meaning 'in the direction of'). Think: 'The wind went south, then west, very earnestly (erly).'
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRECTION IS A FORCE (e.g., 'a strong southwesterly pushed the clouds inland').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'southwesterly' LEAST likely to be used?