southern

1 of 2

adjective

south·​ern ˈsə-t͟hərn 

1

Southern : of, relating to, or characteristic of a region conventionally designated South

2

a

: lying toward the south

b

: coming from the south

a southern wind

southernness

ˈsə-t͟hərn-nəs 

noun

often Southernness

Southern

2 of 2

noun

: the dialect of English spoken in most of the Chesapeake Bay area, the coastal plain and the greater part of the upland plateau in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia, and the Gulf states at least as far west as the valley of the Brazos in Texas and sometimes taken to include the south Midland area

Examples of southern in a Sentence

Adjective

the southern part of the state

the southern shore of the lake

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Hanning, 80, was arrested in Bad Toelz-Wolfratshausen in southern Germany. — Arkansas Online, 7 Oct. 2026

Bright guest rooms are decorated with warm touches of Southern decor and open up to the evergreen hills surrounding the property. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026

As Scientific American previously reported, two other showers, the Southern and Northern Taurids, are set to peak on the nights of November 4–5 and 11–12, respectively. — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 6 Oct. 2026

The warehouse, expected to be a hit with shoppers in the fast-growing southern reaches of the Treasure Valley, is also joined by a 16-pump gas station. — Rose Evans october 6, Idaho Statesman, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English southern, southren, from Old English sūtherne; akin to Old High German sundrōni southern, Old English sūth south

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Noun

1935, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing southern

• southern corn rootworm
• southern fur seal
• southern hemisphere
• southern lights
• southern maidenhair fern
• southern minke whale

Kids Definition

southern

adjective

south·​ern ˈsət͟h-ərn 

1

capitalized : of, relating to, or characteristic of the South

2

: lying toward or coming from the south

southernmost

-ˌmōst 

adjective