# northern

/ˈnɔɹðɝn/ (US) · /nˈɔːðən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/northern
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. location or direction

adjective · CEFR A2

located in the north or facing toward the north.

For teachers: situated in, directed toward, or relating to the north.

- The northern coast of the island is famous for its high cliffs.
- The northern boundary of the national park is defined by a rugged mountain range that remains snow-capped for most of the year.

### 2. cultural or regional

adjective · CEFR B1 · General-service

related to the culture, people, or accent of a specific northern region, like the North of England.

For teachers: characteristic of the inhabitants or culture of a specific northern territory, often requiring capitalisation when referring to a defined political or cultural region.

- He has a strong northern accent that shows he grew up in Manchester.
- The candidate focused her campaign on northern industrial towns, promising to revitalise the local economies through infrastructure investment.

Usage: Often capitalised (Northern) when referring to a specific cultural or political entity.

Teaching tip: In the UK, this almost always refers to the North of England; in the US, it refers to the states above the Mason-Dixon line.

### 3. a type of fish

noun · CEFR B2 · American English · Informal

a common name for the northern pike, a large freshwater fish.

For teachers: a common name for the northern pike (Esox lucius), a predatory freshwater fish species.

- He spent the whole afternoon at the lake trying to catch a large northern.
- Anglers prize the northern for its aggressive strike and the significant challenge it presents during the summer fishing season.

Usage: Commonly used as a countable noun in angling contexts.

Teaching tip: This usage is very common among fishers in the Midwestern United States and Canada.

### 4. a person from the north

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

someone who lives in or comes from a northern part of a country.

For teachers: an inhabitant or native of a northern region.

- As a northern, she found the heat of the tropical summer very difficult.
- The demographic shift saw many northerns moving to the coastal regions in search of milder winter climates.

Teaching tip: While 'northerner' is the standard term, 'northern' is sometimes used as a noun in specific regional dialects.

## Examples

- The northern part of the country is very cold.
- Many people travel to the northern territories during the winter to see the natural light displays in the sky.
- The northern coastline remains largely undeveloped due to the harsh maritime climate and the logistical difficulties of transporting construction materials across the rugged mountain passes.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.