It is a term that encompasses Canaan, the son of Ham, the peoples descended from him, and the region where they lived.
Gen 9:18The sons of Noah who came out of the ark were Shem, Ham, and Japheth. Ham was the father of Canaan.
Gen 10:15Canaan was the father of Sidon his firstborn, and Heth,Gen 10:16and the Jebusites, Amorites, Girgashites,Gen 10:17the Hivites, Arkites, Sinites,Gen 10:18the Arvadites, Zemarites and Hamathites. Later the Canaanite clans scatteredGen 10:19The border of Canaan extended from Sidon toward Gerar as far as Gaza, and then toward Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboyim, as far as Lasha.