panama

noun

pan·​a·​ma ˈpa-nə-ˌmä 

-ˌmȯ

often capitalized

: a lightweight hat of natural-colored straw hand-plaited of narrow strips from the young leaves of the jipijapa

also : a machine-made imitation of this

Examples of panama in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For Markle, the classic cream panama hat with a black ribbon fit the bill. —Anna Millard, refinery29.com, 14 July 2018

Duchess Meghan, wearing a white blouse and panama hat, is spotted holding their three-month-old son, who donned a striped sweater and beige pants. —Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, 19 Aug. 2019

Meghan paired her dress with a pair of Grear leather sandals from Sarah Flint NY, a pair of sunglasses and a white-and-black Madewell x Biltmore panama hat, which is also sold out. —Maria Pasquini, PEOPLE.com, 30 June 2018

Ariana Grande has her oversize pullovers, Kate Middleton has her skirt suits, Meghan Markle has her panama hat, and Pippa Middleton? —Marina Liao, Marie Claire, 27 Aug. 2018

Upstairs, stacks of vintage suitcases line a high bedroom shelf; in the dressing room, a collection of panama hats adorns an antique ladder. —Maria Shollenbarger, ELLE Decor, 18 Oct. 2018

Markle swapped out the fanciful fascinators and proper toppers for a panama hat to finish the look with polish. —Edward Barsamian, Vogue, 14 July 2018

Pippa carried a straw J.Crew clutch (on sale for $60) and matching Jess Collett hand woven panama trilby hat. —Dave Quinn, PEOPLE.com, 5 July 2018

Her accessories added fitting summery touches, including Penelope Chilvers lace-up espadrilles, a Jess Collett panama hat, Chanel sunglasses, and a J.Crew basket clutch. —Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, 5 July 2018

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish panamá, from Panama, Central America

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing panama

• panama hat

Rhymes for panama

• allantois
• baccarat
• chickasaw
• mackinaw
• overawe
• oversaw
• quebecois
• yojana
• aa
• aha
• bashaw
• bradshaw

Kids Definition

panama

noun

pan·​a·​ma ˈpan-ə-ˌmä 

-ˌmȯ

often capitalized

: a lightweight hat made of narrow strips from the young leaves of a tropical American tree

Geographical Definition

Panama

geographical name

Pan·​a·​ma ˈpa-nə-ˌmä 

-ˌmȯ,

ˌpa-nə-ˈmä,

-ˈmȯ

;

ˌpä-nä-ˈmä

variants or Spanish Panamá

1

country in southernmost Central America between the Caribbean Sea and the Pacific; a republic; before 1903 part of Colombia area (including Canal Zone) 30,765 square miles (79,681 square kilometers), population 3,801,000

2

or Panama City city, port on the Gulf of Panama, and capital of Panama population 430,000

3

ship canal 51 miles (82 kilometers) long in central Panama connecting the Atlantic (via the Caribbean Sea) and the Pacific (via the Gulf of Panama)

Panamanian

ˌpa-nə-ˈmā-nē-ən 

adjective or noun