English Reference
Word adjective

southwestern

adj.
US /ˌsaʊθˈwɛstɝn/ UK /saʊθwˈɛstən/ south·west·ern
Definition
  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate American English

    relating to the culture, food, or style of a specific southwestern region, especially in the US.

    pertaining to the cultural or aesthetic characteristics of a specific region designated as southwestern, most commonly the American Southwest.

    Simple

    “We had southwestern food for dinner, which included spicy beans and corn.”

    In context

    “The hotel's interior design features southwestern motifs, incorporating desert colours and traditional textile patterns from the region.”

    Teacher's tip

    In a global context, this often refers specifically to the US states like Arizona and New Mexico unless another country is mentioned.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated