Quantcast
Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
  • Dictionary
  • Thesaurus
  • Scrabble
  • Spanish Central
  • Learner's Dictionary

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

sombrero

play
noun som·bre·ro \səm-ˈbrer-(ˌ)ō, säm-\

Simple Definition of sombrero

  • : a type of hat with a very wide brim that is often worn in Mexico and the southwestern U.S.

Source: Merriam-Webster's Learner's Dictionary

Full Definition of sombrero

plural

sombreros

  1. :  an often high-crowned hat of felt or straw with a very wide brim worn especially in the Southwest and Mexico

See sombrero defined for English-language learners

See sombrero defined for kids



Illustration of sombrero

Origin and Etymology of sombrero

Spanish, from sombra shade


First Known Use: 1599

SOMBRERO Defined for Kids

sombrero

play
noun som·bre·ro \səm-ˈbrer-ō\

Definition of sombrero for Students

plural

sombreros

  1. :  a tall hat with a very wide brim worn especially in Mexico



Learn More about sombrero

  1. Spanish Central: Translation of sombrero Nglish: Translation of sombrero for Spanish speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sombrero

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up sombrero? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

WORD OF THE DAY

iota

play

a very small amount

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. demagogic, demagogue "irresponsible, reckless rhetoric"

  2. skittle What is a 'skittle'?

  3. hubris, pariah Powell's take on Trump

  4. deplorable Clinton: "Basket of deplorables"

  5. sophomoric "It's a sophomoric approach"

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

sombrero

WORD GAMES

Take a 3-minute break and test your skills!

alphabet-pasta-spelling-help

Which is the correct spelling?

acommodate acommadate accommodate accomodate
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ
SCRABBLE® Sprint

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

between-you-and-i
'Between You and I'

Don't let this phrase come between you

shopping-mall
'Mall': It's Not Just for Shopping

It used to be all fun and games

three-sheets-to-the-wind
10 Words and Phrases with Nautical Origins

Take to the sea

prone-vs-supine
Prone vs. Supine vs. Prostrate

Don't take this lying down

Ask the Editors

subjunctive
How to Use the Subjunctive in English

If I were you, I'd watch this

payday
How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless
Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals
Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

alphabet-pasta-spelling-help
Difficult Spelling Words Quiz

Can you spell these 15 tricky spelling words?

Take the quiz
who-knew-quiz
Who Knew?

Take this quiz and discover 12 words for things you didn't know had words.

Take the quiz
Name That Thing
Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

Take the quiz
SCRABBLE® Sprint
SCRABBLE® Sprint

SCRABBLE® fans, sharpen your skills!

Play the game