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Definition of cagayan

cagayan

/ˌkɑːɡəˈjɑːn/
ca · ga · yan
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cagayan Lexical Profile

• noun

1

A province of the Philippines located in the northeastern part of the island of Luzon, known for its extensive agricultural lands and limestone cave systems.

Example

"The local government of Cagayan has been actively promoting eco-tourism to showcase its natural heritage."

2

The longest and largest river in the Philippines, flowing northward through the Cagayan Valley region in northeastern Luzon before emptying into the Babuyan Channel.

Word Nuance & Usage

Cagayan (a province in northern Luzon) is frequently confused with Cagayan de Oro, a prominent, highly urbanized city located in northern Mindanao, Philippines.

• Rhymes for cagayan

• Nearby Words

caffeinated
caffeine
caftan
cagayan
cage
cagelike
cagey

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Ilokano word 'karayan' meaning 'river', or historically from 'tagay', a plant that grew abundantly along the riverbanks, eventually corrupted by the Spanish to 'Cagayan'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cagayan. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cagayan
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