catamaran

noun

cat·​a·​ma·​ran ˌka-tə-mə-ˈran 

ˈka-tə-mə-ˌran

: a vessel (such as a sailboat) with twin hulls and usually a deck or superstructure connecting the hulls

Illustration of catamaran

Examples of catamaran in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It can be reached via water taxi or private catamaran (around 20 minutes) and is one of the cays that make up La Cordillera Nature Reserve. —Nicole Kliest, Vogue, 27 July 2025

For example, of the 12 F50s, one referee will zoom in on two or three catamarans competing with each other on the water, while someone else will look at another couple of boats, etc. —Tim Spiers, New York Times, 24 July 2025

The resort has non-motorized water sports too, including stand-up paddleboarding, kayaking, windsurfing and catamaran sailing. —Johanna Read, Forbes.com, 22 July 2025

Founded in 2019 by Sir Russell Coutts and Larry Ellison, SailGP pits 12 national crews in identical 50-foot foiling catamarans. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 5 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Tamil kaṭṭumaram, from kaṭṭu to tie + maram tree, wood

First Known Use

1673, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for catamaran

• assemblyman
• carbofuran
• chipewyan
• illinoian
• newspaperman
• nurseryman
• afghan
• bedpan
• began
• caveman
• chapin
• crankpin

Kids Definition

catamaran

noun

cat·​a·​ma·​ran ˌkat-ə-mə-ˈran 

ˈkat-ə-mə-ˌran

: a boat with twin hulls