merino

noun

me·​ri·​no mə-ˈrē-(ˌ)nō 

plural merinos

1

: any of a breed of fine-wooled white sheep originating in Spain and producing a heavy fleece of exceptional quality

2

: a soft wool or wool and cotton clothing fabric resembling cashmere

3

: a fine wool and cotton yarn used for hosiery and knitwear

merino adjective

Examples of merino in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Crafted from superfine 100% merino wool, the lightweight jersey knit is airy, odor-resistant, and naturally temperature-regulating—perfect for layering on the trail. —Ariana Dickson, Travel + Leisure, 6 Nov. 2025

But on Madison Avenue, knitwear — including alpaca pieces knit in Peru and merino styles made in Italy — will the hero. —Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 5 Nov. 2025

This super-soft merino wool sweater is warm without feeling heavy, with a cropped fit that gives it a modern edge and a mock neck that adds just the right touch of snugness. —Jeaneen Russell, PEOPLE, 1 Nov. 2025

The ZoneKnit line by icebreaker, made from merino-blend fabric, provides warmth on the mountains. —AFAR Media, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Spanish

First Known Use

1804, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for merino

• amino
• carlino
• casino
• imino
• ladino
• latino
• neutrino
• argentino
• campesino
• cappuccino
• diamino
• filipino

Kids Definition

merino

noun

me·​ri·​no mə-ˈrē-nō 

plural merinos

1

: any of a breed of sheep that produce a heavy fleece of fine white wool

2

: a fine soft wool or wool and cotton fabric resembling cashmere

3

: a fine wool and cotton yarn

merino adjective