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Definition of southern

southern

/ˈsʌð.ɚn/
south · ern
Adverb:southerly
•
Adjective:southern
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southern Lexical Profile

southern Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Situated in, directed towards, or facing the south.

Example

"They drove along the southern coast of the island to enjoy the sweeping ocean views."

2

Originating from, characteristic of, or relating to a region located in the south.

Example

"She prepared a traditional southern meal featuring fried chicken and collard greens."

3

Blowing from the south (specifically referring to wind).

Example

"A warm southern breeze swept through the valley during the early afternoon."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for southern

• Nearby Words

southeasterner
southeastward
southerly
southern
southern black racer
southern comfort
southern copperhead

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English 'sūðerne', derived from 'sūð' (south) combined with the adjectival suffix '-erne' denoting direction.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Southern. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/southern
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