Swiss

American  

[swis] / swɪs /

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, associated with, or characteristic of Switzerland or its inhabitants.

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Switzerland.

2. (sometimes lowercase) Swiss muslin.

3. Swiss cheese.

Swiss British  

/ swɪs /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Switzerland, its inhabitants, or their dialects of German, French, and Italian

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noun

1. a native, inhabitant, or citizen of Switzerland

Other Word Forms

• anti-Swiss
  adjective
• non-Swiss
  adjective
• pro-Swiss
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of Swiss

1505–15; < Middle French suisse < Middle High German Swīz

Example Sentences

Biel, Switzerland-based Swatch is led by the family of Nicolas Hayek, credited with saving Swiss watchmaking in the 1980s from the threat of low-cost quartz models from Japan.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

"The WHO's budget has been reduced by around 21 percent, or nearly one billion dollars. Hundreds of jobs have been eliminated, programs have been reduced," Swiss Health Minister Elisabeth Baume-Schneider noted in her address.

From Barron's • May 18, 2026

The economic research body forecast Swiss real GDP growth, excluding major sporting events, at 1.0% in 2026 and 1.7% in 2027 under its baseline scenario, which assumes the conflict has only a limited impact.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 18, 2026

Better known for its colourful watches from the 1980s, AP Swatch has described the Royal Pop collection as "a disruptive collaboration between two icons of Swiss watchmaking".

From BBC • May 18, 2026

It was as if Lola had had a miniature laptop embedded in her body, which could spring out like some hidden tool on a Swiss army knife.

From "The School for Whatnots" by Margaret Peterson Haddix