DictionaryAI

Canada

KA-nuh-duh/ˈkænədə/

4 meanings of Canada

Practice

  1. 1
    modern countryproper nouncountable or uncountable
    A large country in North America, north of the United States, with Ottawa as its capital.

    Canada has ten provinces and three territories.

    Many tourists visit Canada to see the Rocky Mountains.

    UsageSay in Canada, with no the.

    Note
  2. 2
    British colonyproper nounhistoricalcountable or uncountable
    Either of two British colonies (Lower Canada, now Quebec, and Upper Canada, now Ontario) that existed from 1791 to 1841.
    Note
  3. 3
    French colonyproper nounhistoricalcountable or uncountable
    A region of New France between 1608 and 1763, covering parts of what are now Quebec, Ontario, and nearby US states.

    In the 1600s, Canada was a part of the French colony of New France.

    Canada was the busiest part of New France for over a century.

    Note

Less common meaning

  1. 4
    smaller neighbornouncolloquialUScountable
    A country sitting next to a much bigger neighbor that it is very like but always stays in its shadow.

    Like a younger brother who looks just like his famous older brother but never gets noticed.

    Next to its giant neighbor, the small country felt like the region's Canada.

    Living next to such a giant, the country feels like a quiet Canada.

    UsageSay the big neighbor first: France's Canada.

Practice

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Origin

It comes from a French word taken from the Laurentian word kanata, meaning "village" or "settlement."

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts