Switzerland

American  

[swit-ser-luhnd] / ˈswɪt sər lənd /

noun

1. a republic in central Europe. 15,944 sq. mi. (41,294 sq. km). Bern.

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Switzerland British  

/ ˈswɪtsələnd /

noun

1. Latin name: Helvetia.  German name: Schweiz.  Italian name: Svizzera.  French name: Suisse.  a federal republic in W central Europe: the cantons of Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden formed a defensive league against the Hapsburgs in 1291, later joined by other cantons; gained independence in 1499; adopted a policy of permanent neutrality from 1516; a leading centre of the Reformation in the 16th century. It lies in the Jura Mountains and the Alps, with a plateau between the two ranges. Official languages: German, French, and Italian; Romansch minority. Religion: mostly Protestant and Roman Catholic. Currency: Swiss franc. Capital: Bern. Pop: 7 996 026 (2013 est). Area: 41 288 sq km (15 941 sq miles)

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Switzerland Cultural  

1. Republic in central Europe, bordered by France to the west, Germany to the north, Liechtenstein and Austria to the east, and Italy to the east and south. Its capital is Bern, and its largest city is Zurich.

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Discover More

It is famous for its watchmaking industry and its milk chocolate.

Known for its strict neutrality, Switzerland maintained armed neutrality in both World War I and World War II.

Swiss banks allow depositors to be identified by a number known only to the depositor and a few bank officials; private fortunes can therefore be kept secret.

Example Sentences

The UK and Switzerland, meanwhile, clocked their highest ever June temperatures with 37.3C in an English village called Santon Downham and 38.8C in the Swiss city of Basel.

From Barron's • Jun. 27, 2026

A Bosnia and Herzegovina fan before the World Cup group stage match between Switzerland and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 27, 2026

They could play the Group L winners, perhaps England, or Switzerland who finished top of Group B.

From BBC • Jun. 25, 2026

For American moviegoers, it feels refreshingly original, though the same story was previously filmed in Spain, Italy, Switzerland, France and South Korea.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026

The boats were approaching the five-hundred-meter mark now, a quarter of the way down the racecourse, with Switzerland, Britain, and Germany essentially tied for the lead, the U.S. and the Italian shells behind them.

From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown