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 of canyon

• ravine
• gorge
• valley

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 project forms part of the wider VaMEx initiative, which aims to explore Valles Marineris, a vast canyon system stretching approximately 1864 miles across Mars. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 Nov. 2026

Mariner 9 also spotted an enormous canyon called Valles Marineris. — Tariq Malik, Space.com, 13 Nov. 2026

Standing at the canyon’s edge as the sun set behind her, she was moved to tears by the beauty. — Katie Bain, Billboard, 13 Nov. 2026

Ferns and mosses cover the towering canyon walls, surrounding the trail with dense vegetation. — Cu Fleshman, Travel + Leisure, 12 Nov. 2026

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

Rhymes for canyon

• anion
• banyan
• carbanion
• companion

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