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noun Uncommon

Canaan

KAY-nuhn

Canaan (noun) means an ancient region of the Middle East roughly covering modern Israel and Palestine, referred to often in the Bible. Example: “The Israelites were said to have journeyed toward the land of Canaan.”

noun
1
An ancient region of the Middle East roughly covering modern Israel and Palestine, referred to often in the Bible.
"The Israelites were said to have journeyed toward the land of Canaan."
2
A male given name, sometimes used today, of biblical origin.
"They named their son Canaan after the biblical land."

How to use Canaan

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA biblical place name, now also occasionally used as a first name.

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The Israelites were said to have journeyed toward the land of _____.

Etymology

Via Latin and Greek from Hebrew Kena'an; the pronunciation shifted over centuries following the Great Vowel Shift in English.

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for Canaan

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Canaan” mean?

The word “Canaan” means an ancient region of the Middle East roughly covering modern Israel and Palestine, referred to often in the Bible. In plain terms, a biblical place name, now also occasionally used as a first name.

How do you pronounce “Canaan”?

“Canaan” is pronounced KAY-nuhn (/ˈkeɪnən/ in IPA).

How do you use “Canaan” in a sentence?

Here is “Canaan” used in a sentence: “The Israelites were said to have journeyed toward the land of Canaan.”

What part of speech is “Canaan”?

“Canaan” is a noun.

Where does the word “Canaan” come from?

The word “Canaan” comes from Latin. Via Latin and Greek from Hebrew Kena'an; the pronunciation shifted over centuries following the Great Vowel Shift in English.

Is “Canaan” a common word?

“Canaan” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “Canaan” have?

“Canaan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an ancient region of the Middle East roughly covering modern Israel and Palestine, referred to often in the Bible.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial