panini

noun

pa·​ni·​ni pə-ˈnē-nē 

variants or less commonly panino

pə-ˈnē-nō 

plural panini or paninis

: a usually grilled sandwich made with Italian bread

Note: Panini is a plural form in Italian but is commonly used as both a singular and a plural in English. Its use as a singular has given rise the variant plural form paninis. The use of panino as a singular form in English has become relatively uncommon as panini has become established as the usual singular.

On each visit, someone at our table invariably orders a panini …

—Jodi Wright

At the back of the shop are paninis, freshly brewed coffee and two tubs of homemade soups.

—M. H. Reed

Examples of panini in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The restaurant will also serve paninis, salads and other classic entrees, including vegetarian entrees like roasted cauliflower with brown butter puree and herby ranch. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 22 May 2024

The food menu has shareables such as charcuterie boards as well as paninis, soups and salads. —Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 21 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian, diminutive of pane bread, from Latin panis — more at food

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above