canyon
noun
a deep valley with steep sides, often with a stream flowing through it.
canyon
1 American
[kan-yuhn]
/ ˈkæn jən /
Or
cañon
noun
-
canyons
plural
Canyon
2
American
[kan-yuhn]
/ ˈkæn jən /
noun
canyon
British
/ ˈkænjən /
noun
canyon
Scientific
/ kăn′yən /
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
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.
Vocabulary lists containing canyon
Physical Geography - Introductory
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Geological Features
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Physical Geography - Middle School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The outdoor space boasts yet another fireplace along with sweeping city and canyon views, according to the listing.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 21, 2026
More than 60 people were evacuated and two bodies were found after heavy rains hit the canyon over the weekend, the National Park Service said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
It asked anyone who knew of hikers or backpackers who were in the inner canyon along the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Saturday to get in touch.
From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026
Big Bend, bordering Mexico in West Texas, features volcanic dikes, dinosaur bones and stunning canyon views.
From Salon ● Aug. 18, 2026
Hey, I came this close to falling into a canyon, I ain’t doing a repeat.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
Amid it all, she continued to run Canyon Coffee, the coffee roaster and cafe business Walsh co-founded with Casey Wojtalewicz in 2016.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Ally Walsh, the co-founder of Canyon Coffee, cried the first time she saw the house where she now lives in Mount Washington, Los Angeles.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
Canyon Coffee has become as known for its lines as it has for its menu.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
The wildfire started around 3 p.m. at Bouquet Canyon Road and Quarry Road.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 4, 2026
A canyon named Valles Mari- neris is 20,000 feet deep—three times as deep as Arizona’s Grand Canyon.
From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins
"She knew it would be very hot and it can get to about 40C, and the feeling is higher because it's in the canyons," Brown said.
From BBC ● Oct. 2, 2026
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
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
Even so, the seafloor hosts enormous features that surpass the size of the largest land canyons.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 23, 2026
More than anything in life, he hated crowds, and his dream was to live by himself near the red-rocked canyons of the wild Devil’s River.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
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.
