Gwynedd

American  

[gwin-eth] / ˈgwɪn ɛð /

noun

1. a county in northwestern Wales. 979 sq. mi. (2,535 sq. km).

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Gwynedd British  

/ ˈɡwɪnɛð /

noun

1. a county of NW Wales, formed in 1974 from Anglesey, Caernarvonshire, part of Denbighshire, and most of Merionethshire; lost Anglesey and part of the NE in 1996: generally mountainous with many lakes, much of it lying in Snowdonia National Park. Administrative centre: Caernarfon. Pop: 117 500 (2003 est). Area: 2550 sq km (869 sq miles)

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Etymology

Origin of Gwynedd

Of uncertain origin; from Welsh Gwynedd, and possibly meaning “collection of tribes,” a borrowing from early Irish (and a reflection of ancient Irish settlement in the area), and either cognate with the Old Irish ethnic name Féni “Irish (People),” or from Old Irish fían “war band”

Example Sentences

They had moved to the area from Dyffryn Nantlle, Gwynedd, a few months before.

From BBC • Jul. 8, 2026

Cyngor Gwynedd, the local authority in Gwynedd, said the cost of each pupil, external at Ysgol Y Garreg was £21,471 - "significantly higher" than the county average of £5,998.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

On the sands of Abersoch in Gwynedd, Beach Hut 7 is a timber and corrugated iron cabin, one of only 17 on the right-hand side of the stretch of coast.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

Dewi Jones, cabinet member for education, said Cyngor Gwynedd had about 9,000 children in its primary schools in 2016, but that had dropped to just over 7,800.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

Mother thought I was safe at Gwynedd, slopping the pigs and hoeing the fields.

From "Fever 1793" by Laurie Halse Anderson