# northwestern

/ˌnɔɹθˈwɛstɝn/ (US) · /nɔːθwˈɛstən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/northwestern
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. direction or location

adjective · CEFR A2

located in or coming from the direction between north and west.

For teachers: pertaining to the northwest; situated in or directed toward the northwest.

- The northwestern part of the country is famous for its rainy weather.
- The northwestern provinces experienced an unusually mild winter, which local meteorologists attributed to shifting maritime currents in the Pacific.

### 2. regional identity

adjective · CEFR B1

relating to a specific area called the Northwest, like the corner of a country.

For teachers: relating to a specific geographic or political region designated as 'Northwest'.

- She attended a northwestern university before moving to the capital.
- The candidate focused her campaign on northwestern voters, promising to revitalise the industrial infrastructure of the border regions.

### 3. film genre

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a movie or story set in the old days in the northwest part of North America.

For teachers: a dramatic work or film subgenre set in the late 19th or early 20th century in the Pacific Northwest or Alaska.

- The director is famous for making a northwestern about the gold rush.
- While the classic Western focuses on the desert plains, this northwestern explores the brutal survival of trappers in the frozen Yukon territory.

Usage: usually refers to a variation of the 'Western' genre set in colder, forested climates.

## Examples

- The storm is moving toward the northwestern coast.
- Many people enjoy hiking in the northwestern part of the state during the summer months.
- The northwestern territories are sparsely populated, characterized by rugged terrain and a climate that remains harsh for much of the calendar year.

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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.