a small territorial district, especially one of the states of the Swiss confederation.
(in a department of France) a division of an arrondissement.
Heraldry. a square area in the dexter chief, or right-hand corner, of an escutcheon, often distinctively treated: a diminutive of the dexter chief quarter.
Architecture. a pilaster or similar feature projecting from the corner of a building.
Obsolete. a division, part, or portion of anything.
to divide into parts or portions.
to divide into cantons or territorial districts.
to allot quarters to (soldiers, troops, etc.).
(Older Spelling) Kwangchow. (Wade-Giles) Kuangchou. (Pinyin) Guangzhou. Older Spelling. a seaport in and the capital of Guangdong province, in southeastern China, on the Zhu Jiang.
a city in northeastern Ohio: location of the football Hall of Fame.
a city in eastern Massachusetts.
a city in western central Illinois.
a town in central Mississippi.
any of the 23 political divisions of Switzerland
a subdivision of a French arrondissement
heraldry a small square or oblong charge on a shield, usually in the top left corner
(tr) to divide into cantons
(esp formerly) to allocate accommodation to (military personnel)
Chinese names: Guangzhou. Kwangchow. a port in SE China, capital of Guangdong province, on the Zhu Jiang (Pearl River): the first Chinese port open to European trade. Pop: 3 881 000 (2005 est)
a city in the US, in NE Ohio. Pop: 80 806 (2000)
1525–35; < Middle French < Old Provençal, derivative of can side, edge ( see cant 2)
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The canton of Geneva issues a permit for comfort cooling only to people who prove they need it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 29, 2026
Unable to find a reasonably priced house after a two-year search, the 62-year-old moved with his wife to the neighboring canton of Aargau around nine years ago.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 12, 2026
Their research focused on Gossau Upper Secondary School in the northeastern canton of St. Gallen, which introduced flexible school hours three years ago.
From Science Daily ● Mar. 11, 2026
The Swiss canton of Valais has now banned pyrotechnic devices in all indoor public venues.
From BBC ● Jan. 15, 2026
The world’s oldest playable organ, in the basilica of Valere in the canton of Valais in Switzerland, was built some time between 1390 and 1435.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
Carrying his takings of £500, he then headed home to Anstee Court in the Canton area of the city.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
It also brought together a diverse network of artists across its international ports, from London to Calcutta to Canton.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 3, 2026
When Alma and Bryan Canton bought a newly built home in Reno, Nev., earlier this month, the builder gave them a concession that they used to reduce their mortgage rate to 5.7%, Alma Canton said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
She and her mother had planned to drive from their home in Canton, Miss., to Virginia Beach to meet him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 21, 2026
Canton shrugged, tossed it up in the air.
From "Look Both Ways" by Jason Reynolds
For it to pass, it would need to win not just a majority of votes cast but also majorities in more than half of Switzerland's 26 cantons.
From Barron's ● Jun. 14, 2026
It’s levied annually by individual cantons on all residents, at rates reaching up to about 1% of net worth, after deductions and exclusions for certain categories of assets.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2026
While safety regulations are set by cantons, they need to be implemented by local authorities.
From BBC ● Jan. 7, 2026
More than 30 specialists drawn from several Swiss cantons are involved in the process of identifying victims, Swiss officials said Friday at a press conference.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 2, 2026
But when each of the cantons interested claimed to be made the episcopal residence negotiations were at last suspended, and in 1828 six small bishoprics were erected under immediate control of Rome.
From Church History, Vol. 3 of 3 by Kurtz, J. H.
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.
