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

It is believed to be composed mostly of water ice mixed with rock, like most of Uranus' moons, and has a patchwork surface of different types of terrain, including huge canyons, ridges and cliff faces. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2024

The canyon height of the ceilings, anchored by heavy wood furnishings and stone floors. —Jennifer Leigh Parker, Forbes, 29 Oct. 2024

The main attraction of staying overnight in the Grand Canyon was our proximity to the canyon rim — literally just steps from our door. —Cynthia J. Drake, USA TODAY, 26 Oct. 2024

An hour into the journey, canyon walls appeared on either side of the tracks and prickly pears with egglike fruits began to loom beneath my window. —Monisha Rajesh, Travel + Leisure, 20 Oct. 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