Northeastern describes anything related to or located in the northeast part of a region, country, or area. The northeast is the direction halfway between north and east, like the upper right corner of a map.

In the United States, the Northeastern states include places like New York, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Maine. This region is known for its historic cities, including Boston and Philadelphia, where key events of the American Revolution took place. The Northeastern states experience four distinct seasons, with snowy winters and colorful fall foliage.

You can use northeastern to describe many things: northeastern winds blow from the northeast direction, a northeastern dialect refers to how people in that region speak, or a northeastern university is one located in that part of the country. A hiker might take the northeastern trail, meaning the path that heads toward the northeast.

The word works for any scale: you might live in the northeastern part of your town, or study the northeastern region of Africa. Geographers and meteorologists use this term constantly when describing locations, weather patterns, or regional characteristics.