lido

noun

li·​do ˈlē-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce lido (audio)
plural lidos
Synonyms of lidonext
: a fashionable beach resort

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Lido Comes From an Italian Resort

The original Lido is a beach resort near Venice, Italy. The town’s name comes from the Italian word lido, which means "shore" or "bank." (The Italian root derives from litus, the Latin word for "shore.") By the mid-19th century, Lido’s reputation as a chic vacation destination for the well-to-do made it the envy of seaside resorts everywhere. English speaking social climbers generalized the town’s name and started using it for any fashionably Lido-esque beach.

Examples of lido 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.
Beach clubs, often called lidos, are central to the spirit of Forte. Rebecca Rose, Travel + Leisure, 9 May 2026 The lidos are more affordable, the pace is slower, and the crowd is mostly local. Jenna Curcio, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 2026 These mega-fans croon old hits, sip drinks on the lido deck, and bask in the tropical sun, deferring midlife crises over a long weekend of spicy adventure. Hamilton Cain, Time, 22 Dec. 2025 At this point, you… A. Picture yourself on the lido deck watching glaciers drift by and whales breach. Mary Clements Evans, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025 Sport an oversized raffia topper for a day at the lido, a canvas wide-brim for an afternoon of gardening, or one with a grosgrain-ribbon chin strap when going for a walk. Sarah Zendejas, Vogue, 29 June 2025 The show will delve into swimming’s evolution over the past century in three locations: the pool, the lido, and nature. George Nelson For Artnews, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2024 His Tim Blake Nelson-starring debut Old Henry was the talk of the lido at 2021’s Venice Film Festival (and in the Obama household — the former president included it on his list of favorite films that year), catapulting Ponciroli to the big time. Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 3 Sep. 2019

Word History

Etymology

Lido, Italy

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of lido was in 1860

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Cite this Entry

“Lido.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lido. Accessed 21 May. 2026.

Geographical Definition

Lido

geographical name

Li·​do ˈlē-(ˌ)dō How to pronounce Lido (audio)
island of Italy in the Adriatic Sea separating the Lagoon of Venice and the Gulf of Venice

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