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
: 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
Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026
After the 1970 census, southern lawmakers seeking to dilute the electoral power of Black voters who’d gained the franchise in the 1960s decided to split Black-majority areas into districts where they would be outvoted by conservative whites.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
Compared to other regions in the country, Dubrovnik could be harder hit if the fuel crisis deepens because of its location at the southern tip of Croatia’s Adriatic Sea coastline.
—Darko Bandic, Fortune, 2 May 2026
The southern city of Guangzhou, known as the birthplace of dim sum, is pushing back.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for southern
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Adjective
So, put yourself behind the mayor’s desk or on the city council in any city from the southern border to the Boundary Waters.
—Joe Soucheray, Twin Cities, 2 May 2026
After the 1970 census, southern lawmakers seeking to dilute the electoral power of Black voters who’d gained the franchise in the 1960s decided to split Black-majority areas into districts where they would be outvoted by conservative whites.
—Vann R. Newkirk Ii, The Atlantic, 2 May 2026
Compared to other regions in the country, Dubrovnik could be harder hit if the fuel crisis deepens because of its location at the southern tip of Croatia’s Adriatic Sea coastline.
—Darko Bandic, Fortune, 2 May 2026
The southern city of Guangzhou, known as the birthplace of dim sum, is pushing back.
—Maureen O'Hare, CNN Money, 2 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for southern
Cite this Entry
“Southern.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/southern. Accessed 4 May. 2026.
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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