canton

noun
UK: /ˈkæntən/
US: /ˈkæntən/

  1. A small area of a country, especially one that has its own government.

    1. Switzerland is divided into several cantons and each has autonomy.
    2. The federal government oversees the cantons, but local laws still govern the canton.

  2. A subdivision of a country established for political or administrative purposes.

    1. He moved from one canton to another, seeking better job opportunities.
    2. Each canton in the region held elections to determine its representatives.

  3. A division or section of a heraldic flag or shield, often in the upper corner.

    1. The flag features a canton in the upper left corner representing its origin.
    2. The design includes a canton with a symbol representative of the city's history.

Synonyms

ward region section division district
canton transitive-verb

  1. To divide into cantons or districts.

    1. The proposal is to canton the country into smaller administrative divisions.
    2. Some reformers suggest cantoning the region to better manage resources and governance.

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "canton" in English means: A small area of a country, especially one that has its own government., A subdivision of a country established for political or administrative purposes., A division or section of a heraldic flag or shield, often in the upper corner..

The phonetic transcription of "canton" is /ˈkæntən/ in British English and /ˈkæntən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "canton": ward, region, section, division, district.

Example usage of "canton": "Switzerland is divided into several cantons and each has autonomy.". More examples on the page.