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

The cathedral was as deep and shadowed as a canyon, full of drifting incense and the thrilling sound of low choral chanting. —Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 10 Apr. 2024

Third, a permanent ideological canyon between men and women is likely to worsen wellbeing. —Richard V. Reeves, TIME, 6 Apr. 2024

The section of the Gallatin River that Kadin wanted to run was near my house, easily accessible and less intimidating than anything in the canyon. —Maggie Slepian, Longreads, 2 Apr. 2024

Marine sanctuaries help to protect underwater resources, like rocky reefs, kelp forests, deep-sea canyons and archaeological sites. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 21 Mar. 2024

Winds in the mountains of the Inland Empire and Orange County are expected to reach 50 mph to 75 mph and could push up to 80 mph in some wind-prone canyons, weather officials said. —Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2024

For years, outdated and insufficient wastewater treatment infrastructure on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border has resulted in spills to the canyons, the Tijuana River and the Pacific Ocean. —Tammy Murga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Mar. 2024

This is home to a network of deep, fractured canyons. —Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

My friend lives in a canyon with lots of wildlife, including coyotes, mountain lions, owls, and other predators. —Amy Dickinson, Detroit Free Press, 23 Mar. 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