noun
southerly
SUH-thuh-lee
Southerly (noun) means a wind blowing from the south. Example: “A cold southerly swept across the plains.”
noun
1
A wind blowing from the south.
"A cold southerly swept across the plains."
adjective
1
Facing, moving toward, or coming from the south.
"They took a southerly route to avoid the mountains."
How to use southerly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishToward or from the south — often used for wind direction.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "southern," which describes a fixed location rather than direction or movement.
Easily confused with
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Word forms
- Plural
- southerlies
- Comparative
- more southerly
- Superlative
- most southerly
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A cold _____ swept across the plains.
Etymology
From souther + the adjective/adverb suffix -ly.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for southerly
See all rhymes for southerly →Frequently asked questions
What does “southerly” mean?
The word “southerly” means a wind blowing from the south. In plain terms, toward or from the south — often used for wind direction.
How do you pronounce “southerly”?
“Southerly” is pronounced SUH-thuh-lee (/ˈsʌðɚli/ in IPA).
How do you use “southerly” in a sentence?
Here is “southerly” used in a sentence: “A cold southerly swept across the plains.”
What is another word for “southerly”?
Words with a similar meaning to “southerly” include southly.
What part of speech is “southerly”?
Depending on how it is used, “southerly” can be a noun and an adjective.
How many meanings does “southerly” have?
“Southerly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a wind blowing from the south.
