plural lanais
: a roofed porch : veranda
… a covered porch is called a "lanai" in Hawaii …—
Sanette Tanaka
Sanette Tanaka… Honolulu landscape architect James C. Hubbard used four L-shaped extensions to broaden an entry lanai.—Sunset
Sunset… my feelings are just as ambivalent and I sit on the front lanai of my rented bungalow in Palm Springs, California …—Douglas Coupland
Douglas CouplandExamples of lanai in a Sentence
a low-slung Hawaiian beach house with an open-sided lanai to catch the tropical breezes
Recent Examples on the Web
Set the wicker chairs and tables on a patio or lanai graced by textured rugs and warm wood accents, for an overall relaxed aesthetic.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
So put down that cheesecake and come in from the lanai.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
The 1-acre lot includes lime, fig, and loquat trees and a lanai with ocean views.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 9 Feb. 2026
In fact, the water is just a few steps down from your lanai.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lanai
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Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 4 Mar. 2026
So put down that cheesecake and come in from the lanai.
—Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 26 Feb. 2026
The 1-acre lot includes lime, fig, and loquat trees and a lanai with ocean views.
—The Week Us, TheWeek, 9 Feb. 2026
In fact, the water is just a few steps down from your lanai.
—Beth Luberecki, USA Today, 17 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for lanai
Cite this Entry
“Lanai.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lanai. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationGeographical Definition
Lanai
geographical name
La·nai
lə-ˈnī 
lä-
variants
or Lana'i
island of Hawaii west of Maui and south of Molokai area 141 square miles (367 square kilometers)
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