Jump To:

• canyon
  canyon

  noun

  a deep valley with steep sides, often with a stream flowing through it.
• Canyon
  Canyon

  noun

  a town in N Texas.

canyon

¹ American  

[kan-yuhn] / ˈkæn jən /

Or cañon

noun

• canyons
  plural

1. a deep valley with steep sides, often with a stream flowing through it.

   Synonyms:

   coulee, arroyo, gap, pass, ravine, gully, gorge

---

Canyon ² American  

[kan-yuhn] / ˈkæn jən /

noun

1. a town in N Texas.

---

canyon British  

/ ˈkænjən /

noun

1. a gorge or ravine, esp in North America, usually formed by the down-cutting of a river in a dry area where there is insufficient rainfall to erode the sides of the valley

---

canyon Scientific  

/ kăn′yən /

1. A long, deep, narrow valley with steep cliff walls, cut into the Earth by running water and often having a stream at the bottom.

---

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• canyons
  plural

Etymology

Origin of canyon

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

Explanation

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

canyon Canyon canyons

Big Bend, bordering Mexico in West Texas, features volcanic dikes, dinosaur bones and stunning canyon views.

From Salon ● Aug. 18, 2026

For about a year, towering remnants of the St. Francis Dam stood eerily in the empty canyon, a reminder of the disaster, before the city had them dynamited.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 6, 2026

The home spans 1,836 square feet and is described in its listing as an “enchanting” dwelling that perfectly blends “privacy, character, and serene canyon living.”

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 24, 2026

New York's mayor Zohran Mamdani very quickly announced that a ticker tape parade down the canyon of heroes would be held on Thursday for the Knicks.

From BBC ● Jun. 14, 2026

Most of the homes on the east side of the canyon had grand driveways with arching iron gates.

From "100 Sideways Miles" by Andrew Smith

At least four hikers died in June while trekking through the Grand Canyon, state authorities reported in Arizona.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

In addition to their Grand Canyon visit, the Duffys swing by Yellowstone National Park, rounding out their looks at two of the most photographed destinations in existence.

From Salon ● Aug. 23, 2026

I don’t think Sierra Canyon coach Jon Ellinghouse will ever forgive me for the jinx.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

The final high school basketball game turned out to be a memorable Open Division regional final between Sierra Canyon and Etiwanda at Cal State Northridge.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

Whether coincidentally or not, that date is identical, within experimental error, to the date of Clovis hunters’ arrival in the Grand Canyon area.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond

Today, professional operators have developed guided, client-friendly methods to experience the landscape, including harnessed rope swings off cliffs, walking highlines across canyons, and navigating cliff-top terrain in specialized 4×4 jeeps.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

Canine teams also have been used in the search through steep canyons and dense vegetation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026

"These canyons are incredibly rich ecosystems and, until now, they've been largely unexplored because of the difficulty of working at such extreme depths," Dr. Nester said.

From Science Daily ● May 14, 2026

Police said the helicopter was operated by Airborne Aviation, a company whose website advertises "a doors-off thrill seekers adventure tour" of the picturesque island's waterfalls, canyons, and beaches.

From BBC ● Mar. 27, 2026

Outside beckons—I want to run into the foothills and scream into the canyons.

From "Internment" by Samira Ahmed

Related Words

• gorge
• gully
• ravine
• valley