naan

1 of 2

noun (1)

variants or less commonly nan
: a round flat leavened bread especially of the Indian subcontinent

nan

2 of 2

noun (2)

less common spelling of naan

: a round flat leavened bread especially of the Indian subcontinent

Examples of naan 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.
Noun
The grocer opened its doors to customers on June 17 and is the first H-E-B to offer Masala House, an H-E-B product line of in-house meal options like chicken masala, butter chicken, naan, chutney dips and other items. Fousia Abdullahi, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 July 2026 Cut out a small opening in each piece of naan, and these tiny bread pockets can be stuffed with endless types of pizza toppings. Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 July 2026
Noun
In West Virginia, there are nanas and nans, grams and grandmas, grannies, abuelas, and even some nonnas. Casey Cep, New Yorker, 9 May 2026 Fortunately for Long, her nan loved her front-row seat to this special dance show. Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for naan

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Hindi & Urdu & Persian; Hindi & Urdu nān bread, from Persian

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1828, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of naan was in 1828

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Naan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/naan. Accessed 6 Jul. 2026.

Geographical Definition

Nan

geographical name

river 390 miles (628 kilometers) long in northern Thailand flowing south to join the Ping River forming the Chao Phraya River
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