What does "southwest" mean?
The intercardinal compass point halfway between south and west; specifically at a bearing of 225°.
Southwest
/saʊθˈwɛst/ adj, adv, name, noun
adj, adv, name, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: The intercardinal compass point halfway between south and west; specifically at a bearing of 225°.
- Grammar: southwest is listed as adj, adv, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: southwestward, antarctic, arctic, austral.
- Useful contrasts: northeast, northeast region, northeastward.
- Usage evidence: The Naxi language is spoken in Southwest China.
How to use "southwest"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "southwest" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "southwest" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "southwest" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "southwest" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "southwest" is acting as adj, adv, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "southwestward" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "southwest", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The intercardinal compass point halfway between south and west; specifically at a bearing of 225°.
"So this was my future home, I thought![…]Backed by towering hills, the but faintly discernible purple line of the French boundary off to the southwest, a sky of palest Gobelin flecked with fat, fleecy little clouds, it in truth looked a dear little city; the city of one's dreams."
- 2 a location in the southwestern part of a country, region, or city wordnet
- 3 the compass point midway between south and west; at 225 degrees wordnet
- 4 the direction corresponding to the southwestward compass point wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Of, in or pertaining to the southwest; southwestern. not-comparable, usually
- 2 Situated toward or in the direction of the southwest; southwestward; southwesterly. not-comparable, usually
"A southwest course."
- 3 Coming from the southwest; southwesterly. not-comparable, usually
"A southwest wind."
Adjective
- 1 situated in or oriented toward the southwest wordnet
- 2 coming from the southwest wordnet
Adverb
- 1 Towards or in the direction of the southwest; southwestwards. not-comparable, usually
"We are travelling southwest at the moment."
Adverb
- 1 to, toward, or in the southwest wordnet
Proper Noun
- 1 A borough and region of Montreal, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
- 2 Synonym of Southwestern United States.
- 3 A locality in the Central Highlands council area, the Derwent Valley council area, Huon Valley council area and the West Coast council area, central Tasmania, Australia.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"The Naxi language is spoken in Southwest China."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "southwest"?
Common synonyms include: southwestward, antarctic, arctic, austral, boreal, cardinal points.
How do you use "southwest" in a sentence?
The Naxi language is spoken in Southwest China.
How do you pronounce "southwest"?
Pronounced /saʊθˈwɛst/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English southwest, southewest, from Old English sūþwest and sūþanwestan, equivalent to south + west. Cognate with West Frisian súdwest, Dutch zuidwest, German Südwesten, Danish sydvest, Swedish sydväst.
Etymology 2
From southwest, equivalent to south + west. * (Montreal): Calque of French Sud-Ouest. * (United States of America): Ellipsis of American Southwest or Desert Southwest.