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

Private speedboat or catamaran charters are nothing compared to the experience aboard the Friendship Rose, a classic Caribbean schooner with soaring sails built by hand on the sands of Bequia's Friendship Bay several decades ago. —Carley Rojas Avila, Travel + Leisure, 1 Dec. 2025

The company offers everything from half-day catamaran sails to three-hour private adventure charters to Masonboro Island. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 30 Nov. 2025

Eventually, the catamaran capsized, and the men clung to the boat’s overturned hull for their lives. —Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025

The Bluegame catamaran also requires roughly half the horsepower of a 90-foot monohull, which has a similar interior volume. —Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 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