Northerly describes something that comes from the north or moves toward the north. When a weather forecaster announces a northerly wind, she means the wind is blowing from the north toward the south. A ship sailing on a northerly course is heading north, perhaps toward colder waters and different lands.

The word works like a compass direction with added detail: it tells you about direction and sometimes position, such as where something is coming from or going to. A northerly breeze feels different in summer than winter because northern air often carries cooler temperatures. Arctic explorers traveled in a northerly direction when seeking the North Pole.

You might also hear northerly used to describe locations: “The northerly islands of Japan” means the islands positioned toward the north of the country. The related words southerly, easterly, and westerly work the same way for their directions.