An Americanism first recorded in 1835–45; from Colonial Spanish (Mexico, southwestern U.S.), Spanish cañón “a long tube, a hollow,” equivalent to cañ(a) “tube” (from Latin canna cane ) + -on augmentative suffix
A canyon is a deep, narrow valley surrounded by tall cliffs. Because a canyon is often very deep, be very cautious when standing on the rocky cliffs above. The noun canyon refers to a deep ravine that has been cut into the earth's surface over a long period of time by erosion from a running river. Also known as a gorge, it usually has very steep walls with rocky cliffs. One of the most famous examples is the Grand Canyon, which was cut by the Colorado River. It's an astounding 277 miles long, up to 18 miles wide, and a mile deep.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It said the fault caused a brief surge of electricity on its four live transmission lines in Eaton Canyon.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 9, 2026
Located in the Stone Canyon area, the swell home built in 1935 initially landed on the market for $12 million in 2017, about twice what Williams paid for the place in 2006.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 8, 2026
It burned through Water Canyon Campground, where I spent my final night in relative comfort after roughing it in the backcountry.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026
Snowmelt is an especially important focus because Arizona has experienced declining snow levels over time, and the Grand Canyon region has followed the same trend.
From Science Daily • Jun. 2, 2026
Look: I can only imagine what it must have been like to be alive in San Francisquito Canyon the night of William Mulholland’s great failure.
From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
