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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And in the middle of the room is Julia, not the Strokes frontman, howling into the mic as her rainbow necklace and furry tail flap against a green bikini top and skirt. Kieran Press-Reynolds, Pitchfork, 25 June 2025 Behold the Billie Wax Kit, perfect for waxing your face and bikini line. Annie Blackman, Allure, 23 June 2025 What came after was no surprise in hindsight — instead of pursuing a career in law and politics, Isabella Espinosa saved her lunch money to buy bikini materials and began building what seemed like an impossible dream. Angela Lei, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025 The second bikini look Lovato wore during the honeymoon was a simple black two-piece. Starr Bowenbank, People.com, 17 June 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

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Cite this Entry

“Bikini.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bikini. Accessed 30 Jun. 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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