westerly: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to Formal; common in meteorological, nautical, and geographical contexts.
Quick answer
What does “westerly” mean?
Situated in, moving towards, or coming from the west.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Situated in, moving towards, or coming from the west.
Refers to a wind that blows from the west; can describe a general direction or orientation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Both use it in weather forecasting, sailing, and general description of direction.
Connotations
Neutral in both; technical/meteorological connotation is primary.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English due to greater prevalence of maritime and weather discourse in general media.
Grammar
How to Use “westerly” in a Sentence
[ADJ] + wind/breeze/gale[ADJ] + direction/coursemove/travel/sail + [ADV]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “westerly” in a Sentence
adverb
British English
- The weather front is moving westerly at about 20 knots.
- We continued westerly along the coastal path.
American English
- The migration path tends to shift westerly in the fall.
- They travelled westerly across the plains.
adjective
British English
- The forecast predicts a strong westerly wind by Thursday.
- They sailed on a westerly course towards the Isles of Scilly.
American English
- A persistent westerly flow brought warm air to the Midwest.
- The storm's westerly track is unusual for this season.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in context of shipping or aviation logistics.
Academic
Common in geography, climatology, and earth sciences.
Everyday
Used in weather reports and general direction description.
Technical
Core term in meteorology, navigation, and sailing.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “westerly”
- Using 'westerly' as a noun for a person from the west (incorrect).
- Confusing 'westerly' (from the west) with 'westward' (towards the west).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Westerly' primarily means 'coming from the west' (especially for wind) or 'situated in the west'. 'Westward' specifically means 'towards the west'.
No, it is not used to describe people or cultures. Use 'western' for that (e.g., Western culture).
It is moderately common, most frequently heard in weather forecasts and in contexts involving direction, like hiking, sailing, or aviation.
This is the proper name for the prevailing winds that blow from west to east in the middle latitudes of both hemispheres.
Situated in, moving towards, or coming from the west.
Westerly is usually neutral to formal; common in meteorological, nautical, and geographical contexts. in register.
Westerly: in British English it is pronounced /ˈwɛstəli/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈwɛstərli/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The Westerlies (capitalised, referring to the prevailing winds)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'WEST-erly': it's all about the WEST. The '-erly' part is like in 'easterly' or 'northerly', signalling direction.
Conceptual Metaphor
DIRECTION IS A SOURCE (the wind comes *from* the west).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'westerly' used most precisely as a noun?