bikini

noun

bi·​ki·​ni bə-ˈkē-nē How to pronounce bikini (audio)
plural bikinis
1
a
: a two-piece bathing suit worn by women that does not cover the midriff see also string bikini, tankini
b
: a short snug swimsuit worn by men
2
: a pair of low-cut briefs (see brief entry 2 sense 4)
Launched in May, the underwear brand for men and women includes bikinis, … G-strings and boxer briefs.Phyllis Furman
… ultra low-rise jeans with a built-in bikini or thong.Sunday Tribune (South Africa)
often used before another noun
Bikini briefs are usually lower than the true waist, often at the hips.Clifford Pugh
bikinied adjective
or less commonly bikini'd

Examples of bikini in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Wear each piece together as a set, or mix and match with other bikini tops and bottoms in your closet. Averi Baudler, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025 Barrymore then revealed the choice behind her black bikini top, which stood out compared to her bright white suit. Julia Teti, Footwear News, 28 Mar. 2025 This cinched bikini set features a cheeky bottom and a knotted bikini top easily adjusted for all sizes. Nora Colomer, FOXNews.com, 28 Mar. 2025 Since Brown was dressed in a bikini, the new body mod — which appears to be tiny writing — was on display for the first time, per screenshots captured by Page Six. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bikini

Word History

Etymology

French, from Bikini, atoll of the Marshall Islands

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bikini was in 1947

Browse Nearby Words

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bikini.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bikini. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

bikini

noun
bi·​ki·​ni bə-ˈkē-nē How to pronounce bikini (audio)
: a scanty two-piece bathing suit for a girl or woman
Etymology

from French bikini "two-piece bathing suit," from Bikini, atoll in the Marshall Islands

Geographical Definition

Bikini

geographical name

Bi·​ki·​ni bi-ˈkē-nē How to pronounce Bikini (audio)
island (atoll) of the Marshall Islands

Note: Bikini was the site of U.S. atomic bomb tests in 1946 and hydrogen bomb tests in 1954 and 1956.

Bikinian noun

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