# geneva

/dʒəˈnivə/ (US) · /dʒənˈiːvɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/geneva
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the city in Switzerland

noun · CEFR B2

a famous city in Switzerland that is home to many international organisations like the United Nations.

For teachers: the second-most populous city in Switzerland, serving as a global hub for diplomacy and international cooperation.

- Many international peace talks are held in Geneva because of its neutral history.
- Geneva serves as the worldwide headquarters for numerous humanitarian organisations, including the Red Cross and various United Nations agencies.

### 2. the Geneva Conventions

noun · CEFR B2

a set of international laws that protect people during wars, such as prisoners and injured soldiers.

For teachers: a series of international treaties concluded in Geneva, establishing the standards of international law for humanitarian treatment in war.

- The soldiers were accused of breaking the rules set by Geneva during the conflict.
- Legal scholars argued whether the new technology violated the spirit of Geneva regarding the treatment of non-combatants.

### 3. a type of gin

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic

an older name for a strong alcoholic drink similar to gin.

For teachers: a grain spirit flavoured with juniper berries, historically referring to the Dutch style known as jenever.

- The old sailor sat in the corner of the pub with a glass of geneva.
- The merchant's ledger from 1740 listed several barrels of geneva imported from the Netherlands for sale in the local market.

## Examples

- The international peace conference took place in Geneva.
- Many global organisations choose Geneva as their base because of the city's long history of political neutrality.
- The diplomatic mission arrived in Geneva to negotiate the terms of the new environmental treaty, joining representatives from over fifty other nations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.