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DictionarycantonAdministrative division
noun

canton

KAN-tun/ˈkæntən/

A political subdivision of a country, especially Switzerland.

The Swiss canton manages its own schools and local administration.

One flat map of Switzerland with only the canton of Bern highlighted in ochre, accompanied by a small Swiss flag.
Etymology
cantLatincorner, section of a country
+onItalianaugmentative

A 'corner' could also mean a portion of a country; its augmentative named a region. This territorial meaning developed into a political subdivision, especially one of Switzerland's constituent states.

In context

Kings and Generals75:41
village of Friedlingen and fortified his position to contest any attempted French crossing. Villars deemed the defenses too strong for direct assault, so he requested access through the adjacent Swiss Canton of Basel
War of the Spanish Succession: All Battles and Events - FULL DOCUMENTARY

More examples

  • Several cantons border the lake.
  • The proposal goes before voters in each canton.
  • They cross into a neighboring canton before noon.

Forms

canton · cantons

Similar words

state
Another kind of political subdivision with differing legal powers.
province
A territorial division whose autonomy varies by country.