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 caveat is that while the V8s in these pickups are built for towing, off-road shenanigans, and long road trips, the LS6 in Chevy's sports car was tuned with the racetrack and canyon carving in mind. — New Atlas, 25 Sep. 2026

But, in 1993, the canyon’s first nature center was destroyed by the Kinneloa fire. — Jaclyn Cosgrove, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026

National Park Service law enforcement rangers located his remains in the canyon below Glacier Point Trail. — Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 23 Sep. 2026

Iowa Hill is a tiny, isolated community of about 50 residents tucked into the steep American River canyon country east of Colfax. — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 21 Sep. 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