What does sunwise mean?
Sunwise means in the direction of the sun's apparent motion, or clockwise when viewed from above the North Pole. It was especially associated with navigation, where describing a vessel's direction in terms of the sun provided a practical way to communicate its course. The word can function adverbially, as in 'sailing sunwise,' or adjectivally, as in 'a sunwise course.' Although it is intelligible today, sunwise is not part of ordinary modern English and is more likely to appear in historical writing, specialist nautical contexts, or discussions of traditional navigation. The expression also reflects a premodern way of orienting oneself by the heavens rather than relying exclusively on compass directions or electronic navigation. For most current purposes, 'clockwise' is the clearer and more familiar substitute.
In the direction of the sun's apparent motion, clockwise when viewed from above the North Pole.
"The ship turned sunwise as it entered the narrow channel."
Chiefly nautical and now uncommon.
Moving or oriented in the direction of the sun's apparent motion.
"They maintained a sunwise course throughout the crossing."
Chiefly nautical and now uncommon.
Sunwise turns a familiar compass direction into a visual one: follow the clock, as the sun appears to move.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sunwise come from?
Sunwise is a compound of 'sun' and the directional suffix '-wise'. It belongs to an English nautical vocabulary in which courses were described relative to the sun's apparent movement. The contrast with the now less common 'anti-sunwise' reflects this traditional directional system.
How sunwise is actually used
The term is chiefly associated with nautical and early navigational usage. It is now uncommon, and modern speakers will usually say 'clockwise' or use a conventional compass direction.