What does widdershins mean?
Widdershins is an uncommon but still intelligible English word for movement in the counterclockwise direction—the direction opposite to clockwise. It may modify a verb, as in “turn widdershins,” or stand as a noun naming that direction or manner of turning. The word often carries a slightly literary, whimsical, or traditional tone, and it can suggest turning away from the usual course as well as literally moving anticlockwise. It is especially associated with British English, although the term is also used in American English. Speakers who do not know it may interpret it simply as the opposite of clockwise, which captures its central meaning. The expression survives in writing because it gives ordinary movement a vivid, old-fashioned character: a wheel can spin widdershins, while a dancer can turn widdershins across the floor. Its principal value today is stylistic and expressive, but understanding it also helps readers encounter older descriptions of travel, dance, machinery, and celestial movement where “anticlockwise” may be less apt than the traditional term.
In the direction opposite to clockwise; counterclockwise.
"The carousel reversed direction and began turning widdershins."
Often literary or deliberately traditional in modern usage.
The counterclockwise direction or manner of turning.
"With a final widdershins, the mechanism came to rest."
The noun is rare today and is most likely to occur in descriptive, literary, or historical writing.
The plural is rare; the singular is commonly used when naming the direction or manner of turning.
"Each widdershins brought the mechanism back to its starting position."
Say ‘widdershins’ and the clock suddenly runs anticlockwise—a wonderfully old-fashioned way to describe going the wrong way round.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of widdershins
Widdershins developed in early modern English as an alteration of the older form withershins. The older word was borrowed from Dutch wedderschins, a term referring to the opposite direction; its Dutch element wedder means “opposite.” The English form underwent a consonantal alteration and eventually became the familiar modern spelling.
How widdershins is actually used
The word is uncommon in everyday modern English and often has a literary, traditional, or whimsical tone. It can also suggest acting against the usual direction or course.
Easily confused with widdershins
Withershins is an older variant spelling of widdershins, with the same meaning of counterclockwise or opposite to clockwise.