Northwestern means in, from, or toward the northwest: the direction halfway between north and west. If you're facing north and turn 45 degrees to your left, you're facing northwest.

When we describe something as northwestern, we're usually talking about its location relative to a larger area. The northwestern United States includes states like Washington, Oregon, and Idaho. A northwestern wind blows from the northwest toward the southeast. A hiker heading on a northwestern trail is moving toward the northwest part of the wilderness.

The word often appears in place names and regional descriptions. Northwestern University got its name because it was in the northwestern part of the United States when it was founded in 1851 (though the country has since expanded farther west). The Pacific Northwest refers to the northwestern corner of the United States, where the Pacific Ocean meets states like Washington and Oregon.

In your own neighborhood, you might live in the northwestern part of town, or your school might be on the northwestern edge of the city. The term helps us describe positions and directions more precisely than just saying “over there” or “that way.”