south·ern
ˈsə-t͟hərn 
1
capitalized
: 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
: 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
Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
Now, one local authority in southern England is campaigning to change that.
—James Frater, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
TheUSS, the Navy's newest and largest aircraft carrier, is en route to the southern Caribbean with all the aircraft and warships that accompany it.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Over southern Hispaniola, additional rainfall of 1 to 2 inches is expected through tonight, with storm total local maxima of 40 inches.
—Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for southern
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Adjective
Fall is in full swing in the South, and while the most southern regions are just starting to see cooler temperatures, many of us are already bundling up for the season with our favorite sweaters to stay warm.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 31 Oct. 2025
Now, one local authority in southern England is campaigning to change that.
—James Frater, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
TheUSS, the Navy's newest and largest aircraft carrier, is en route to the southern Caribbean with all the aircraft and warships that accompany it.
—Ellie Cook, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Over southern Hispaniola, additional rainfall of 1 to 2 inches is expected through tonight, with storm total local maxima of 40 inches.
—Miami Herald Hurricane Bot, Miami Herald, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for southern
Cite this Entry
“Southern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southern. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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