southernmost
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /sˈʌðənmˌəʊst/
US
- /ˈsəðərnˌmoʊst/
Description
- farthest south
- at the lowest point on a map
- nearest the South Pole
"Southernmost" describes the place that lies farthest toward the south. It's not just in the South; it's the very end of it. Imagine a journey: if you kept going south as long as possible, you'd eventually reach the southernmost point. This word is often used when talking about locations like cities, islands, or countries. For example, Key West, Florida, is the southernmost city in the contiguous United States. It's a way to pinpoint the absolute farthest extent of something going south.
Imagine an explorer charting a course, pushing farther and farther south across a map. Eventually, they'd reach a point where there was no land left to travel south from—that place would be described as "southernmost." This word isn't just about being located in the southern part of something; it signifies the absolute extreme limit of southward extension.
"Southernmost" is often used geographically, pinpointing the farthest point south within a region or country. For example, "The southernmost tip of Africa is Cape Agulhas," or "McMurdo Station in Antarctica is one of the southernmost research facilities on Earth." It's a precise way to define a location's position relative to the South Pole.
It is mostly used for real places on a map rather than as a figure of speech. You will usually see it in travel writing, geography, history, or news reports that need to name the point farthest south in an area.
The word implies a definitive limit and is often used to emphasize the remoteness or uniqueness of a place. It's more than just saying something is "in the south"; it declares that it is the furthest south possible. So, when you hear "southernmost," picture a map, an explorer, and the very edge of the southern world.
Examples
- 1
Travel
We stopped at the southernmost point of the island to watch the sunset.
- 2
Agriculture
Most of the country's coffee is grown in its southernmost region.
- 3
Weather forecast
Heavy rain is expected to reach the southernmost counties by midnight.
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- southernmostadjective