southwest

Southwest is a cardinal and intercardinal direction describing the point midway between south and west. In navigation and mapping, it is typically represented as 225 degrees on a 360-degree compass. The term is used to indicate orientation, routes, or locations relative to a reference point.

As a regional designation, southwest can denote broad areas located to the southwest of a given reference. The most prominent example is the American Southwest, a geographic and cultural region in the United States spanning parts of several states and noted for its desert landscapes and distinctive history. The term is also used to describe parts of Asia and other continents when referring to locations in a southwestern direction from a specified point.

In the United States, the Southwest commonly includes states such as Arizona, New Mexico, southern California, southern Nevada, and western Texas; it is sometimes extended to include Utah and Colorado. The region features arid and semi-arid climates, with deserts including the Sonoran and Mojave, as well as high plateaus and deep canyons. Its cultural history includes Indigenous communities such as the Pueblo, Navajo, and Apache, along with a long-standing Hispanic influence from Spanish and Mexican eras.

Meteorologically, a Southwest wind is one that originates in the southwest and moves toward the northeast. The term also appears in regional concepts such as the Southwest Monsoon, which affects parts of Asia and the Indian subcontinent.

In commerce and branding, Southwest is the name of a major U.S. airline, Southwest Airlines, and appears in various regional descriptors and product names. The term remains a versatile descriptor across geography, wind patterns, and culture.