Switzerland

American  

[swit-ser-luhnd] / ˈswɪt sər lənd /

noun

1. a republic in central Europe. 15,944 sq. mi. (41,294 sq. km). Bern.

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Switzerland British  

/ ˈswɪtsələnd /

noun

1. Latin name: Helvetia.  German name: Schweiz.  Italian name: Svizzera.  French name: Suisse.  a federal republic in W central Europe: the cantons of Schwyz, Uri, and Unterwalden formed a defensive league against the Hapsburgs in 1291, later joined by other cantons; gained independence in 1499; adopted a policy of permanent neutrality from 1516; a leading centre of the Reformation in the 16th century. It lies in the Jura Mountains and the Alps, with a plateau between the two ranges. Official languages: German, French, and Italian; Romansch minority. Religion: mostly Protestant and Roman Catholic. Currency: Swiss franc. Capital: Bern. Pop: 7 996 026 (2013 est). Area: 41 288 sq km (15 941 sq miles)

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Switzerland Cultural  

1. Republic in central Europe, bordered by France to the west, Germany to the north, Liechtenstein and Austria to the east, and Italy to the east and south. Its capital is Bern, and its largest city is Zurich.

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Discover More

It is famous for its watchmaking industry and its milk chocolate.

Known for its strict neutrality, Switzerland maintained armed neutrality in both World War I and World War II.

Swiss banks allow depositors to be identified by a number known only to the depositor and a few bank officials; private fortunes can therefore be kept secret.

Example Sentences

It is only the second time England have beaten the World Cup hosts, joining the 1954 victory over Switzerland.

From BBC • Jul. 6, 2026

Instead, he stayed put at his property in Switzerland, meaning he was outside the court’s jurisdiction.

From MarketWatch • Jul. 6, 2026

From Ecuador, Switzerland and Germany, Maria Pessina and her siblings scoured chat groups and social media for news of their mother, after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela eight days ago.

From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026

Syngenta is based in Switzerland and is a subsidiary of China National Chemical, a state-owned enterprise known as ChemChina.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

I suppose there was a time, a couple of years ago, when there was a chance they’d run away to Spain or Switzerland.

From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein