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

Proposed by the Laguna Ocean Foundation, the project envisions restoring 9 acres of the marshy area and sand berm at the mouth of Aliso Creek, improving the link between the ocean and the nearby canyons and wildlands area. —Erika I. Ritchie, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026

Those canyons provide thousands of patches of natural habitat that interpenetrate the edges of greater Los Angeles. —Literary Hub, 8 Jan. 2026

The path, built more than 100 years ago, was constructed so that workers from a municipal water company could reach the utility’s water intakes far into the canyon, Green said. —Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 8 Jan. 2026

Driving to the fishing spot, Squire pointed out the low hills, and a canyon-like cut of stone near the road. —Emily Brindley, Dallas Morning News, 8 Jan. 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