Sion

1 of 2

less common variant of zion

Zion

2 of 2

noun

Zi·​on ˈzī-ən How to pronounce Zion (audio)
variants or less commonly Sion
1
a
: the Jewish people : israel
b
: the Jewish homeland that is symbolic of Judaism or of Jewish national aspiration
c
: the ideal nation or society envisaged by Judaism
2
: heaven
3
: utopia

Examples of Sion in a Sentence

Noun found the path to Zion by doing penance for the wayward ways of her youth Robert Owen's New Harmony, Indiana, was but one of many attempts to establish an American Zion.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English Sion, from Old English, citadel in Palestine which was the nucleus of Jerusalem, from Late Latin, from Greek Seiōn, from Hebrew Ṣīyōn

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of Sion was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Sion. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.

Geographical Definition

Sion 1 of 2

geographical name (1)

1
sē-ˈōⁿ How to pronounce Sion (audio) or German Sitten
ˈzi-tᵊn How to pronounce Sion (audio)  
ˈsi-
commune in southwest central Switzerland; capital of the canton of Valais population 25,350
2

Zion

2 of 2

geographical name

Zi·​on ˈzī-ən How to pronounce Zion (audio)
1
or Mount Zion or Sion
ˈsī-ən How to pronounce Zion (audio)  
ˈzī-
or Mount Sion hill in eastern Jerusalem, Israel

Note: Originally the stronghold of Jerusalem, Zion was conquered by David and in ancient times was the site of the Jewish Temple.

2
city in northeastern Illinois north of Waukegan population 24,413

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