northern

1 of 2

adjective

north·​ern ˈnȯr-t͟hərn How to pronounce northern (audio)
ˈnȯr-t͟hən
1
capitalized
a
: of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated North
b
: of, relating to, or constituting the northern dialect
2
a
: lying toward the north
b
: coming from the north
a northern storm

northern

2 of 2

noun

1
capitalized : the dialect of English spoken in the part of the U.S. north of a line running northwest through central New Jersey, below the northern tier of counties in Pennsylvania, through northern Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois, across central Iowa, and through the northwest corner of South Dakota
2

Examples of northern in a Sentence

Adjective the northern part of the state
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Israel’s deep-water port at Ashdod is less than 25 miles from Gaza, but Israeli officials have refused to open its northern border crossing. Alex Horton, Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2024 Indigenous to parts of western Asia, northern Africa, and southern Europe, this plant has spread to home gardens and markets around the world. Carly Westerfield, Bon Appétit, 9 Mar. 2024 The Houthis have held northern Yemen and the country's capital of Sanaa since 2014. Jon Gambrell, Quartz, 9 Mar. 2024 The Jordanian air force began airdrops into northern Gaza two weeks ago – with one of the first flights overseen by King Abdullah himself. Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 8 Mar. 2024 DeMain, who’s a member the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Tribe in northern Wisconsin, started by telling an ancient Ojibwe story about maple syrup. Frank Vaisvilas, Journal Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2024 Newburg is just across the Potomac River from northern Virginia. Mark Price, Miami Herald, 8 Mar. 2024 Human Rights Watch said the number of aid trucks that have entered the Gaza Strip in recent weeks has dropped 30% and that Israel has not facilitated fuel deliveries to area of the northern territory. Christopher Cann, USA TODAY, 27 Feb. 2024 Miller said in the northwoods section of the state, from Highway 29 and Shawano, and to the northern most part of the state, there could be as much as half an inch to 1-inch of snow this weekend. Drew Dawson, Journal Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2024
Noun
For northern pike, the DNR hopes to foster large sizes by disallowing anyone from keeping a northern that exceeds 30 inches. Tony Kennedy, Star Tribune, 25 Mar. 2021 Most puffers have very tiny mouths, and northerns are no exception. Joe Cermele, Outdoor Life, 23 Aug. 2023 Walleyes or northerns were the target for the Governor's Fishing Opener The water temperature was 48 degrees and the walleyes, Wisconsin's favorite game fish, would likely be at the tail end of their spawning period or just after it. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2023 Carey thought trolling would be the best way to cover water and find some active fish, likely walleyes or northerns. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2023 One northern was chunky and offered a good fight, and the walleyes would contribute to a feast Mike planned that evening for visiting cousins, who before dinner would splash into Cross Lake to cool off and afterward would watch the sun set below the distant pines. Star Tribune, 22 July 2021 Resources The highest rates of botulism in the United States occur in our northern-most state Alaska, and is attributed to changing methods of fermenting meat and the loss of indigenous culinary knowledge among Native Alaskans. Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 23 May 2013 Bartz, who has fished for many decades in the best waters of Wisconsin and Ontario, caught the biggest walleye and northern of his life on Seseganaga. Paul A. Smith, Journal Sentinel, 13 June 2022 My turn was next, with a 21-inch northern on the same type of lure. Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 7 May 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'northern.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English northerne, from Old English; akin to Old High German nordrōni northern, Old English north north

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1950, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near northern

Cite this Entry

“Northern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/northern. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

northern

adjective
north·​ern
ˈnȯr-t͟hə(r)n
1
capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of the North
2
: lying toward or coming from the north
a northern storm
northernmost
-ˌmōst
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on northern

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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