southwestern

adjective

south·​west·​ern sau̇(th)-ˈwe-stərn How to pronounce southwestern (audio)
1
: lying toward or coming from the southwest
2
often Southwestern : of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated Southwest
southwesternmost
sau̇(th)-ˈwe-stərn-ˌmōst How to pronounce southwestern (audio)
adjective

Examples of southwestern in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And Mexicans who lived along the southwestern border long before it was drawn. — Albert Sun, New York Times, 2 July 2026 Heavy rain also fell in parts of southwestern Indiana, the National Weather Service said. — Los Angeles Times, 28 June 2026 From the Fourth of July to Labor Day the lakes around my home in southwestern Michigan are overrun with boats of every description. — Jack G. Mell, Outdoor Life, 2 July 2026 This moment began the regional family-run grocer's rise to becoming the leading grocery chain in southwestern Pennsylvania. — Lauren Linder, CBS News, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for southwestern

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of southwestern was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing southwestern

Rhymes for southwestern

See All Rhymes for southwestern

Browse Nearby Words

southwesterly
southwestern
southwestern corn borer
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Southwestern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southwestern. Accessed 8 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

southwestern

adjective
south·​west·​ern sau̇(th)-ˈwes-tərn How to pronounce southwestern (audio)
1
: lying toward or coming from the southwest
2
often capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of the Southwest

More from Merriam-Webster on southwestern

Nglish: Translation of southwestern for Spanish Speakers

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