Northern

UK: /ˈnɔː^rðə^rn/ US: /ˈnɔrðɚn/ ,(nôr′ᵺərn)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

north•ern /ˈnɔrðɚn/   adj. 

1. lying toward or located in the north.
2. directed or going northward.
3. Meteorology coming from the north, as a wind.
4. Place Names of or relating to the North:
   [ often: Northern] the northern U.S.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

north•ern  (nôr′ᵺərn), adj. 

1. lying toward or situated in the north.
2. directed or proceeding northward.
3. Meteorology coming from the north, as a wind.
4. Place Names (often cap.) of or pertaining to the North, esp. the northern U.S.
5. Astronomy north of the celestial equator or of the zodiac:
   a northern constellation.

n. 

6. a person living in a northern region or country.
7. Rail Transport (cap.) a steam locomotive having a four-wheeled front truck, eight driving wheels, and a four-wheeled rear truck. See table under Whyte classification. 

• bef. 900; Middle English, Old English; see north, -ern

north′ern•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

northern / ˈnɔːðən/ adjective

1. situated in or towards the north
2. directed or proceeding towards the north
3. (esp of winds) proceeding from the north
4. (sometimes capital) of, relating to, or characteristic of the north or North