# Lyons

/ˈɫaɪənz/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. a surname

noun · CEFR B1

a common family name in English-speaking countries.

For teachers: a common surname of English, Irish, or French origin.

- The local library was named after the Lyons family who donated the land.
- Professor Lyons published several influential papers on linguistics during his tenure at the university in the late twentieth century.

### 2. the French city

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

an older English way of writing the name of the city Lyon in France.

For teachers: the traditional English exonym for the French city of Lyon, now largely superseded by the French spelling in modern cartography.

- In older history books, you might see the city of Lyon spelled as Lyons.
- The treaty was signed in Lyons, which at the time was a major hub for the European silk trade.

### 3. towns in the US or Australia

noun · CEFR B2

the name of various small towns and areas in the United States and Australia.

For teachers: a toponym referring to several municipalities and suburbs in the United States and Australia.

- They decided to stop for lunch in Lyons, a small town in Illinois.
- The regional council of Lyons approved the new infrastructure project to improve transport links between the suburb and the city centre.

## Examples

- We spent three days exploring the old streets of Lyons.
- Many travelers stop in Lyons to experience the traditional restaurants known as bouchons.
- Historically a center for silk production, Lyons now functions as a vital intersection for European trade and a primary destination for those studying French culinary arts.

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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.