plural bikinis
1
a
: a two-piece bathing suit worn by women that does not cover the midriff see also string bikini, tankini
b
: a short snug swimsuit worn by men
2
: a pair of low-cut briefs (see brief entry 2 sense 4)
Launched in May, the underwear brand for men and women includes bikinis, … G-strings and boxer briefs.—
Phyllis Furman
Phyllis Furman… ultra low-rise jeans with a built-in bikini or thong.—Sunday Tribune (South Africa)
—often used before another nounSunday Tribune (South Africa)Bikini briefs are usually lower than the true waist, often at the hips.—Clifford Pugh
Clifford PughExamples of bikini in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Even between mom friends, talking about your bikini line can feel like a taboo overshare.
—Liz Regalia, Parents, 27 Dec. 2025
As Lipa, who sported a tiny animal-print bikini, laid on her stomach, Turner — clad in black swim trunks — appeared to rub sunscreen onto her backside.
—Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
In October, for his first collection as the designer of Jean Paul Gaultier, Duran Lantink put models in hairy trompe-l’œil-style catsuits, while Kim Kardashian — who last year first teased us with a Skims faux fur bikini — fully committed with a range of merkins in various shades and hair types.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
But this moment in time does feel closer to the toxicity of the early ’00s, when tabloids freely and shamelessly compared celebrity bikini bodies and bloggers speculated about every pound lost or gained.
—Michelle Konstantinovsky, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bikini
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Liz Regalia, Parents, 27 Dec. 2025
As Lipa, who sported a tiny animal-print bikini, laid on her stomach, Turner — clad in black swim trunks — appeared to rub sunscreen onto her backside.
—Ilana Kaplan, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025
In October, for his first collection as the designer of Jean Paul Gaultier, Duran Lantink put models in hairy trompe-l’œil-style catsuits, while Kim Kardashian — who last year first teased us with a Skims faux fur bikini — fully committed with a range of merkins in various shades and hair types.
—Leah Dolan, CNN Money, 23 Dec. 2025
But this moment in time does feel closer to the toxicity of the early ’00s, when tabloids freely and shamelessly compared celebrity bikini bodies and bloggers speculated about every pound lost or gained.
—Michelle Konstantinovsky, Glamour, 22 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bikini
Cite this Entry
“Bikini.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bikini. Accessed 28 Dec. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bikini
noun
bi·ki·ni
bə-ˈkē-nē 
: a scanty two-piece bathing suit for a girl or woman
Etymology
from French bikini "two-piece bathing suit," from Bikini, atoll in the Marshall Islands
Geographical Definition
Bikini
geographical name
Bi·ki·ni
bi-ˈkē-nē
island (atoll) of the Marshall Islands
Note: Bikini was the site of U.S. atomic bomb tests in 1946 and hydrogen bomb tests in 1954 and 1956.
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