bikini

noun

bi·​ki·​ni bə-ˈkē-nē 

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

bə-ˈkē-nēd 

Examples of bikini in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cox took a dip in the ocean while wearing a black bikini as Coco laid out on a towel in a maroon, yellow and orange-printed bikini, as seen in more photos obtained by the Daily Mail. —Rachel McRady, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025

Dunne wore a red bikini top and dainty hoop earrings and smiled brightly with her eyes closed next to her man. —Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 17 Feb. 2025

Retail prices will range from $64 for a Cabana bikini bottom or an Oceanside top, to $80 for the Bayberry trunk, $112 for the Marina camp shirt, and $128 for the Avalon dress. —Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 13 Feb. 2025

According to multiple reports, their friendship turned romantic when Kate strutted down a catwalk for a fashion show wearing a sheer dress and a black bikini. —Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, 29 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Bikini, atoll of the Marshall Islands

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing bikini

• bikini wax
• string bikini

Rhymes for bikini

• acini
• aldine
• arsine
• carinii
• cosine
• delphine
• domine
• latine
• leucine
• ovine
• pennine
• porcine

Kids Definition

bikini

noun

bi·​ki·​ni bə-ˈkē-nē 

: 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 

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

bi-ˈkē-nē-ən 

noun