South·ern a.  Of or pertaining to the south; situated in, or proceeding from, the south; situated or proceeding toward the south.
 Southern Cross Astron., a constellation of the southern hemisphere containing several bright stars so related in position as to resemble a cross.
 Southern Fish Astron., a constelation of the southern hemisphere (Piscis Australis) containing the bright star Fomalhaut.
 Southern States U.S. Hist. & Geog., the States of the American Union lying south of Pennsylvania and the Ohio River, with Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Before the Civil War, Missouri also, being a slave State, was classed as one of the Southern States.