Switzerland

Compound of Switzer +‎ -land, adopted in the 16th century from Early Modern German Schwytzerland (“land of the Swiss”). Noun sense refers to the state’s political neutrality in both World Wars.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈswɪtsələnd/

  • Audio (UK):

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• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈswɪtsɚlənd/

  • Audio (US):

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• (Indic) IPA^(key): /ˈsʋɪzə(ɾ)ˌlaɳɖ/
• (Philippines) IPA^(key): /ˈswitsɚlɐnd/
• (Hong Kong) IPA^(key): /sʷit̚˥.sœ˧.lɐn˧/
• (General South African) IPA^(key): /ˈswɨtsəˌland/

Switzerland

2. A country in Western Europe and Central Europe. Official name: Swiss Confederation. Capital: Bern (de facto).

   Much of Switzerland is located in the Alps.

   • 2023 March 22, Philip Oltermann, “Switzerland’s national pride dealt heavy blow by the merger of its banking titans”, in The Guardian‎^[1], →ISSN, archived from the original on 31 March 2023:

     While the move has, for now, calmed fears of a repeat of a 2008-style domino effect, the merger has left Switzerland with a new megabank on Paradeplatz square.

   • 2024 September 24, Sandee LaMotte, “Chemicals linked to breast cancer leach into our foods, study finds”, in CNN‎^[2], archived from the original on 26 November 2024:

     “There is strong evidence that 76 known or potential breast carcinogens from food contact materials recently purchased all over the world can be found in people,” said study coauthor Jane Muncke, managing director and chief scientific officer at the Food Packaging Forum, a nonprofit foundation based in Zurich, Switzerland, that focuses on science communication and research.

• Switzerland County

• Swiss
• Switzer

Switzerland (uncountable)

1. (figurative) A neutral party in a dispute; one who does not take sides.

   I’m not getting involved in this argument. I’m Switzerland.

• Countries of the world