Jump To:

• geneva
  geneva

  noun

  Hollands.
• Geneva
  Geneva

  noun

  a city in and the capital of the canton of Geneva, in southwestern Switzerland, on the Lake of Geneva: seat of the League of Nations 1920–46.

geneva

¹ American  

[juh-nee-vuh] / dʒəˈni və /

noun

1. Hollands.

---

Geneva ² American  

[juh-nee-vuh] / dʒəˈni və /

noun

1. a city in and the capital of the canton of Geneva, in southwestern Switzerland, on the Lake of Geneva: seat of the League of Nations 1920–46.

2. a canton in southwestern Switzerland. 109 sq. mi. (282 sq. km).

3. Also called Lake Leman.  Lake of Geneva. a lake between southwestern Switzerland and France. 45 miles (72 km) long; 225 sq. mi. (583 sq. km).

4. a city in central New York.

5. a female given name.

---

Geneva British  

/ dʒɪˈniːvə /

noun

1. a city in SW Switzerland, in the Rhône valley on Lake Geneva: centre of Calvinism; headquarters of the International Red Cross (1864), the International Labour Office (1925), the League of Nations (1929–46), the World Health Organization, and the European office of the United Nations; banking centre. Pop: 177 500 (2002 est)

2. French name: Genève.  German name: Genf.  a canton in SW Switzerland. Capital: Geneva. Pop: 419 300 (2002 est). Area: 282 sq km (109 sq miles)

3. German name: Genfersee.  French name: Lac Léman.  a lake between SW Switzerland and E France: fed and drained by the River Rhône, it is the largest of the Alpine lakes; the surface is subject to considerable changes of level. Area: 580 sq km (224 sq miles)

---

Geneva Cultural  

1. City in southwestern Switzerland, lying on the western end of Lake Geneva, where the Rhone River leaves the lake.

---

Discover More

The International Labor Organization, the International Red Cross, and the World Council of Churches are also based in Geneva.

Because of Switzerland's strict neutrality, Geneva provides an impartial meeting ground for representatives of other nations.

The Geneva Conventions, signed first in 1864 and then in 1906, 1929, 1949, and 1977, provide rules for the humane treatment of prisoners and wounded persons during a war.

The Geneva Accords were a group of four agreements made in 1954, ending seven and a half years of war in Indochina.

Under the leadership of John Calvin in the sixteenth century, Geneva was the center of Protestantism.

The city housed the headquarters of the League of Nations in the Palace of Nations, which is now the European headquarters of the United Nations.

Etymology

Origin of geneva

First recorded in 1700–10; from Dutch genever, from Old French genevre “juniper berries,” from assumed Vulgar Latin jeniperus, from Latin jūniperus “juniper tree, juniper wood, juniper berry”

Example Sentences

"Earthquakes are one of the most devastating things that can happen to any country," spokesman Jens Laerke told reporters in Geneva.

From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026

I think we need a commitment to, at a bare minimum, the Geneva Conventions.

From Salon • Jun. 22, 2026

That work’s performance happened to include three other heroes of this festival: the young violinist Geneva Lewis, the cellist Jay Campbell and the pianist Conor Hanick.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 18, 2026

Whether the deal signed in Geneva this week leads to a final agreement is up in the air.

From BBC • Jun. 17, 2026

“Pret’ near dry,” Geneva said, smoothing my pants.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam