northern
- 01 A2 Elementary
adj.located in the north or facing toward the north.
adj.situated in, directed toward, or relating to the north.
Simple“The northern coast of the island is famous for its high cliffs.”
In context“The northern boundary of the national park is defined by a rugged mountain range that remains snow-capped for most of the year.”
- 02 B1 Intermediate
adj.related to the culture, people, or accent of a specific northern region, like the North of England.
adj.characteristic of the inhabitants or culture of a specific northern territory, often requiring capitalisation when referring to a defined political or cultural region.
Simple“He has a strong northern accent that shows he grew up in Manchester.”
In context“The candidate focused her campaign on northern industrial towns, promising to revitalise the local economies through infrastructure investment.”
UsageOften capitalised (Northern) when referring to a specific cultural or political entity.
Teacher's tipIn the UK, this almost always refers to the North of England; in the US, it refers to the states above the Mason-Dixon line.
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a common name for the northern pike, a large freshwater fish.
n.a common name for the northern pike (Esox lucius), a predatory freshwater fish species.
Simple“He spent the whole afternoon at the lake trying to catch a large northern.”
In context“Anglers prize the northern for its aggressive strike and the significant challenge it presents during the summer fishing season.”
UsageCommonly used as a countable noun in angling contexts.
Teacher's tipThis usage is very common among fishers in the Midwestern United States and Canada.
Synonyms - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.someone who lives in or comes from a northern part of a country.
n.an inhabitant or native of a northern region.
Simple“As a northern, she found the heat of the tropical summer very difficult.”
In context“The demographic shift saw many northerns moving to the coastal regions in search of milder winter climates.”
Teacher's tipWhile 'northerner' is the standard term, 'northern' is sometimes used as a noun in specific regional dialects.
SynonymsnorthernerAntonymssouthernsoutherner
Usage northern coast · northern hemisphere · northern parts