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Switzerland

American  
[swit-ser-luhnd] / ˈswɪt sər lənd /

noun

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


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)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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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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

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The other senior author is Markus Stoffel, MD, PhD, professor of metabolic diseases at the Institute of Molecular Health Sciences, ETH Zurich in Switzerland.

From Science Daily • Apr. 12, 2026

Outside of Indio, the chain has flown for several years at Corona Capital in Mexico City, and exhibited in countries including Japan, Switzerland, Germany and Portugal.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 10, 2026

Products coming from the EU and countries like Switzerland face a 15% tariff, while imports from the U.K. are exempt, due to last year’s trade deals, the analyst says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

The US will also honour lower tariffs agreed as part of deals struck last year with key partners, including Europe, Switzerland, the UK, South Korea and Japan.

From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026

He was born in Switzerland, and we can only guess how he felt about edelweiss and alpine scenery, but about one thing we can be certain: Monsieur Rousseau had never met Admiral Faucet.

From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood