North-northeast is a specific directional term that describes the direction that is halfway between north and northeast. There are many synonyms for this term, including NNE, north by east, and northeasterly. These synonyms describe the same direction as north-northeast, but may be used in different contexts or by different groups of people. For example, sailors may use the term NNE to describe a specific direction on a compass, while pilots may use the term north by east. Regardless of the specific synonym used, all of these terms refer to a direction that is slightly to the east of due north.