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

Pesu, 36, has officiated throughout this year's Women's Champions League and oversaw two games at last summer's European Championship, including the opening match between hosts Switzerland and Norway.

From BBC

The bank is among the largest by assets in Switzerland, with around $250 billion roughly split between its private bank and asset management arms.

From The Wall Street Journal

Before the war, the job of attending to American prisoners fell to Switzerland—Swiss diplomats have represented Washington in Iran since Jimmy Carter’s final months as president.

From The Wall Street Journal

When researchers applied their findings to all floodplain areas in Switzerland suitable for beaver recolonization, they estimated that these wetlands could offset 1.2-1.8% of the country's annual carbon emissions.

From Science Daily

The company operates out of Switzerland, a jurisdiction renowned for its robust data protection laws and its exclusion from the 14 Eyes surveillance network.

From Salon