# Ontario

/ɑnˈtɛɹioʊ/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. Canadian province

noun · CEFR B1

a large province in east-central Canada where the capital city, Toronto, is located.

For teachers: a province in east-central Canada; it is the country's most populous province and contains the national capital, Ottawa.

- Many people move to Ontario to find jobs in the city of Toronto.
- Ontario serves as the economic engine of Canada, housing both the federal government in Ottawa and the country's financial hub in Toronto.

### 2. Lake Ontario

noun · CEFR B1

one of the five Great Lakes of North America, located between Canada and the United States.

For teachers: the easternmost of the five Great Lakes of North America, bordered by the province of Ontario and New York State.

- We took a boat trip across Ontario to see the beautiful shoreline.
- Lake Ontario is the smallest of the Great Lakes by surface area, yet it plays a vital role in the regional ecosystem and shipping lanes.

### 3. US cities

noun · CEFR B2 · American English

the name of several cities in the United States, including a large one in California.

For teachers: a toponym for several municipalities in the United States, most notably a city in San Bernardino County, California.

- The plane landed at the airport in Ontario, California, just after noon.
- The city of Ontario in California has grown rapidly as a logistics hub due to its proximity to Los Angeles and its international airport.

## Examples

- Toronto is the largest city in Ontario.
- Many people move to Ontario to find work in the country's financial and political centers.
- The industrial heartland of Ontario accounts for a significant portion of the national GDP, largely due to its proximity to the American border and the Great Lakes shipping routes.

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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.