What does antitrade mean?
The antitrade is an upper-level wind that blows in the direction opposite to the trade winds, typically found above them in the tropical atmosphere. While trade winds sweep steadily toward the equator near the ocean's surface, the antitrade moves at higher altitudes, often carrying clouds, smoke, or volcanic ash in the reverse direction. The term belongs mainly to the vocabulary of meteorology and physical geography, and it frequently appears in the plural as 'antitrades' when describing the wind system as a whole. Though rarely used in casual conversation, the word captures something genuinely striking about the atmosphere: the air above our heads does not always move with the air below it. For students of weather and climate, the antitrade offers a concise way to describe this counterflow, and its very name — built by prefixing 'anti-' to 'trade' — makes its meaning instantly transparent once the underlying term is understood.
nounA wind in the upper atmosphere that blows in the direction opposite to the trade winds, typically above them in the tropics.
- An upper-atmospheric wind blowing opposite to the trade winds, especially over the tropics.
"The antitrade carried moisture eastward across the tropical sky, countering the surface winds below."
"Sailors of the nineteenth century noted that ash from distant eruptions drifted westward on the antitrade while surface winds blew east."
"The balloonists ascended into the antitrade, which carried their craft back along a course contrary to the winds below."
The plural is common when referring to the antitrade wind system as a whole rather than a single current.
"The antitrades carry cirrus clouds westward above the tropical Atlantic."
High above the steady trade winds sailors have relied on for centuries, an invisible river of air flows the other way — meteorologists call it the antitrade.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of antitrade
The word antitrade is formed within English from the prefix 'anti-', meaning 'against' or 'opposite', combined with 'trade', referring to the trade winds. The term arose in the context of early modern studies of atmospheric circulation, when scientists observing cloud movement noticed high-altitude winds running counter to the familiar surface trades. Its root, 'trade', traces back through Middle English to notions of a path or course, ultimately related to the verb 'tread'.
Related word forms
How antitrade is actually used
A technical term used chiefly in meteorology and historical accounts of atmospheric circulation; rare in everyday speech. Often encountered in the plural form 'antitrades' when referring to the wind system generally.
Easily confused with antitrade
Trade winds blow steadily toward the equator near the surface, while the antitrade blows in the opposite direction aloft.