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
Taylor Millard, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
The Israeli military said four of its personnel had been killed during combat in southern Gaza.
—Reuters, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2025
The intense search effort for two missing elk hunters in southern Colorado came to an end Thursday, when rescuers with Colorado Search and Rescue found both Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko deceased, according to an update from Porter’s aunt, Lynne Runkle.
—Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 18 Sep. 2025
What To Know The latest data from the National Weather Service issued warnings in several southern California areas.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for southern
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Adjective
The soon-to-be 21st District will cover most of southern central Texas, with parts reaching into Austin and San Antonio.
—Taylor Millard, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2025
The Israeli military said four of its personnel had been killed during combat in southern Gaza.
—Reuters, NBC news, 19 Sep. 2025
The intense search effort for two missing elk hunters in southern Colorado came to an end Thursday, when rescuers with Colorado Search and Rescue found both Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko deceased, according to an update from Porter’s aunt, Lynne Runkle.
—Kris Millgate, Outdoor Life, 18 Sep. 2025
What To Know The latest data from the National Weather Service issued warnings in several southern California areas.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 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 21 Sep. 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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