panini

noun

pa·​ni·​ni pə-ˈnē-nē 

variants or less commonly panino

pə-ˈnē-nō 

plural panini or paninis

: a usually grilled sandwich made with Italian bread

Note: Panini is a plural form in Italian but is commonly used as both a singular and a plural in English. Its use as a singular has given rise the variant plural form paninis. The use of panino as a singular form in English has become relatively uncommon as panini has become established as the usual singular.

On each visit, someone at our table invariably orders a panini …

—Jodi Wright

At the back of the shop are paninis, freshly brewed coffee and two tubs of homemade soups.

—M. H. Reed

Examples of panini in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The food portion of the menu will feature salads, paninis and tramezzini (Italian triangular sandwiches) as well as a pasta of the month. —Michele Herrmann, Forbes.com, 21 June 2025

Additional products made with the recalled cucumbers, including subs, wraps, paninis, and salsa, have been pulled. —Tom Gavin, EverydayHealth.com, 28 May 2025

And they’ve been romanticized for nearly as long by foreign travelers who see an espresso bar and long counter full of hot foods, panini, and piles of prosciutto as a sign of culinary superiority. —Lindsey Tramuta, Bon Appetit Magazine, 7 May 2025

Carruth Cellars opens its wine gardens at both locations for locals who enjoy charcuterie, salad, paninis and wine. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian, diminutive of pane bread, from Latin panis — more at food

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for panini

• abc
• absentee
• addressee
• adoptee
• agouti
• allottee
• amphorae
• amputee
• apc
• apogee
• appointee
• assessee