What does meridional mean?
Meridional is a formal word meaning “southern” or “relating to the south.” It can describe a region, landscape feature, or broader north–south orientation, and in astronomy or cartography it means relating to a meridian, the imaginary great circle passing through the poles and the highest point of the sun or a star. The word also occurs as a noun for an inhabitant of southern France, although that use is uncommon and may sound dated or literary. Its register is generally formal and technical, so a phrase such as “meridional France” is more idiomatic than using the word loosely to mean simply “toward the south.” “Southern” is often the natural everyday choice, while “meridional” can evoke geography, surveying, or the formal geography of a hemisphere. Its unusual sound reflects its history: English borrowed it through French from Latin, where it referred to the direction associated with midday and the south.
Relating to the south or to the southern part of a region; in astronomy and cartography, also relating to a meridian or to a north–south direction.
"The survey team calculated the meridional distance between the two stations."
Formal and specialized, especially in geographic, astronomical, and cartographic contexts.
An inhabitant of southern France.
"The novel contrasts Parisian society with a group of provincial meridionals."
Chiefly literary or historical; “southern French person” is more common in modern usage.
The plural is occasionally used in literary or historical references to inhabitants of southern France.
"The novel contrasts Parisian society with a group of provincial meridionals."
Meridional points south because Latin meridiēs originally referred both to midday and to the sun's southerly direction at noon.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does meridional come from?
English borrowed meridional through French méridional from Latin meridionalis, an adjective meaning “of or belonging to the south.” The Latin word was based on meridianus, “of or relating to a meridian,” ultimately connected with meridiēs, “noon” and, by extension, “south,” because the sun is at its highest point in the sky at noon. Related English forms include meridian and meridiem, as in the traditional time divisions ante meridiem and post meridiem.
Related word forms
How meridional is actually used
The adjective is formal and is especially associated with geography, astronomy, and cartography. The noun is uncommon and chiefly literary or historical; “southern French” is more natural in modern usage.
Easily confused with meridional
Meridional means southern or relating to a north–south direction, whereas a meridian is an imaginary great circle on the globe or the highest point of a celestial body.