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 collaborative treat is a sweet take on the panini sandwich, in which a Cinnabon Classic Roll is sliced in half with a layer of Carvel vanilla soft serve in the middle. —Moná Thomas, People.com, 12 Aug. 2025

Much of the deli menu, including the best-selling masala chicken panini sandwich, is of her own creation. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2025

Breakfast burritos, hoagies, paninis, sandwiches, quesadillas and egg bites are also on the Wawa breakfast menu. —Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 25 July 2025

Light poolside fare like panini takes center stage at Acropoli Bar, while the Sunset Bar is the island’s go-to spot for aperitivo at dusk, when head bartender Ambrogio carefully crafts zingy cocktails with local bitters and aromatic herbs, as live piano and harp music fills the air. —Alexandra Kirkman, Forbes.com, 1 Aug. 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