dinghy

noun

din·​ghy ˈdiŋ-ē 

-gē

plural dinghies

1

a

: a small boat carried on or towed behind a larger boat as a tender or a lifeboat

b

: a small sailboat

2

: a rubber life raft

3

: a rowboat or sailboat used to carry passengers or cargo on the coasts of India especially in sheltered waters around the peninsula

Synonyms

• bark
• sailboat
• windjammer

Examples of dinghy in a Sentence

we went sailing on the secluded lake in a little two-person dinghy

Recent Examples on the Web

Park the dinghy at Saba Rock for dinner and drinks and experience one of the most iconic watering holes in the Caribbean, a staple since the 1960s. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 22 Dec. 2024

Dozens of men and boys who were aboard the overcrowded dinghy jumped into the sea, Doctors Without Borders said. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 30 Nov. 2024

After hours of searching, the dinghy was found at 5:30 a.m. in an isolated cove. —Alex Gurley, People.com, 29 Nov. 2024

When Catherine opens her eyes, Nicky and the dinghy are far offshore. —Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Bengali ḍiṅgi, Urdu ḍīngī & Hindi ḍieṁgī

First Known Use

1810, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Kids Definition

dinghy

noun

din·​ghy ˈdiŋ-ē 

-gē

plural dinghies

1

: a small rowboat or sailboat

especially : one carried on a larger boat

2

: a rubber life raft