canyon

noun

can·​yon ˈkan-yən 

variants or less commonly cañon

1

: a deep narrow valley with steep sides and often with a stream flowing through it

2

: something resembling a canyon

the city's concrete canyons

Synonyms

• col
• couloir
• defile
• flume
• gap
• gill [British]
• gorge
• gulch
• gulf
• kloof [South African]
• linn [chiefly Scottish]
• notch
• pass
• ravine
• saddle

Examples of canyon in a Sentence

as the scouts made their way through the canyon, they marveled at the sheer walls of rock on both sides

Recent Examples on the Web

Valles Marineris, located along Mars' equator, is the largest canyon in the Solar System. —Benedict Cosgrove, Newsweek, 19 Dec. 2024

Brave the canyon walls of Ribeira dos Caldeirões, rappelling through waterfalls into hidden pools, or skip through into the clear waters off Vila Franca do Campo, where whales and dolphins skim beside your boat. —Alexandra Gillespie, Outside Online, 16 Dec. 2024

By Wednesday, the canyon was yet again transformed. —Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024

The city, which is about 45 miles north of Los Angeles, is known for its rugged canyons, stunning bluffs and celebrities' seaside mansions. —Bradford Betz, Fox News, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish cañón, probably alteration of obsolete Spanish callón, augmentative of calle street, from Latin callis footpath

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

canyon

noun

can·​yon

variants also cañon

ˈkan-yən

: a deep narrow valley with steep sides and often with a stream flowing through it