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

SailGP features identical hydrofoil catamaran boats that can go more than 60 miles per hour. —Kurt Badenhausen, Sportico.com, 10 Dec. 2025

The artwork on the catamaran’s hull depicts a pod of humpback whales swimming alongside bottlenose dolphins, marine mammals regularly seen off Orange County’s coast. —Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 5 Dec. 2025

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

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