plural nanas
informal
: the mother of one's father or mother : grandmother
… my nana's commonsense wisdom still resonates. She told me it's not important what people say they do, it's what they do that counts.—
Ms.
Ms.The Detroit rapper [Big Sean] hopped on Instagram on Monday … to send out a heartfelt tribute to his nana, who he says has a special place in armed forces lineage.—C. Vernon Coleman II
—often used as a form of addressC. Vernon Coleman II"I don't know, Nana," said Eufala … . "It doesn't look very much like a car."—Kathleen Lane and Cabell Harris
Kathleen Lane and Cabell HarrisExamples of nana in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Oh no, even Carolyn’s nana is reading the tabloids?
—Emma Specter, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2026
The dwarf nana pomegranate is a small shrub that thrives in hotter climates, and will fit into your home as easily as a statuesque tree.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026
The nana had picked out two new outfits for the baby girl, including a long-sleeve onesie with an elephant crowned by a pink bow on its front.
—Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
For many Black children, seeing a warm, confident woman who looks like their mom, auntie, or nana leading the classroom builds a sense of trust and reminds them that education belongs to them, too.
—Keyaira Boone, Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nana
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.
Emma Specter, Vogue, 13 Mar. 2026
The dwarf nana pomegranate is a small shrub that thrives in hotter climates, and will fit into your home as easily as a statuesque tree.
—Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 26 Feb. 2026
The nana had picked out two new outfits for the baby girl, including a long-sleeve onesie with an elephant crowned by a pink bow on its front.
—Jayme Fraser, USA Today, 4 Feb. 2026
For many Black children, seeing a warm, confident woman who looks like their mom, auntie, or nana leading the classroom builds a sense of trust and reminds them that education belongs to them, too.
—Keyaira Boone, Essence, 18 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for nana
Cite this Entry
“Nana.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nana. Accessed 19 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
