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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The 2025 spring swim collection features a mix of push-up and triangular bikini tops, high-waisted and hipster bottoms, as well as zip-up and scoop-neck one-piece suits, among others. Maya Gandara, StyleCaster, 5 Mar. 2025 The video also features bearded men in bikini tops. Ross Rosenfeld, Newsweek, 26 Feb. 2025 Starring Drew Barrymore, Lucy Liu and Cameron Diaz, this movie had it all – action, adventure and a bikini scene so memorable that Moore and Barrymore revisited on the latter’s talkshow last year. Dan Heching, CNN, 26 Feb. 2025 In the photo, the couple both sported sunglasses as Brown pulled her long brunette locks off her face and pouted for the camera while wearing a red bikini top. Kirsty Hatcher, People.com, 20 Feb. 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 12 Mar. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on bikini

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