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 tight-fitting lid keeps dishes warm and easy to transport while also doubling as a grill pan to cook up sausages, paninis, and more eats on the fly. —Mariana Best, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Dec. 2025

That National Cafe, a cozy space with bright windows, sold comfort breakfast and lunch fare with an emphasis on vegetarian and vegan options, including breakfast sandwiches, French toast, classic and chorizo burritos, panini and more. —Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 11 Dec. 2025

Grill the sandwiches in a moderately hot skillet or panini grill for 4-5 minutes until the bread is golden brown and the cheese has melted. —Susan Selasky, Freep.com, 29 Nov. 2025

Our top finds include a roasting pan for your future Thanksgiving turkey, a grill pan to make steak, chicken, and a crispy panini without firing up the grill, and a versatile utensil set. —Alicia Geigel, Southern Living, 25 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for panini

• abc
• absentee
• addressee
• adoptee
• agouti
• allottee
• amphorae
• amputee
• apc
• apogee
• appointee
• assessee