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

Other inflatable boats go the catamaran route. —Omar Kardoudi march 13, New Atlas, 13 Mar. 2026

The Turkish yard just unveiled a 62-foot hybrid catamaran that is the very definition of small but mighty. —Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 10 Mar. 2026

Later, in December, two sailors and their dog were rescued from a sinking catamaran almost 60 miles off the coast of Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, thanks to a radio alert also detected by satellites, NOAA said. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2026

The company offers everything from half-day catamaran sails to three-hour private adventure charters to Masonboro Island. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 26 Feb. 2026

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