piñata

noun pi·ña·ta \ pēn-ˈyä-tə , pin- \

variants: or pinata

|Updated on: 19 Jun 2018

Definition of piñata

: a decorated vessel (such as of papier-mâché) filled with candies, fruits, and gifts and hung up to be broken with sticks by blindfolded persons as part of especially Latin American festivities (as at Christmas or for a birthday party)

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Recent Examples of piñata from the Web

There was a giant water slide for the children and a game of pinata.

— mary carole mccauley, baltimoresun.com, ""Miracle" baby celebrates his first birthday at home," 9 June 2018
Fortunately, a lot of the floats were passing out candy, so no one felt the urge to bust open Sun King Brewery's pinata.

— domenica bongiovanni, Indianapolis Star, "Indy Pride: 7 proud moments that stood out at the parade," 9 June 2018
Hint: Vigilant kids will want to keep watch for the pinata-like Sky Kite that drops candy several times during the event.

— jen banowetz, Naperville Sun, "Kite fest returns to Naperville," 24 May 2018
With a nod to the Cinco de Mayo date, the cafeteria was decorated with colorful pinatas. Thanked for a spectacular soiree were Chairwoman Christine Breaux and event stylist Brandy Pinedo.

— robert rhoden, NOLA.com, "Household hazardous waste to be collected in St. Tammany," 21 May 2018
The Trump pinata has become a staple of Mexican import and candy stores throughout the Chicago area.

— christopher borrelli, chicagotribune.com, "Trump piñatas a hit across cultures," 16 May 2018
Post-Derby pinata contest at 5:30 p.m. Free admission.; bit.ly/2HCJpRw.

— luann gibbs, Cincinnati.com, "Cinco de Derby: Cinco de Mayo and Derby Day events in Cincinnati," 3 May 2018
The Yard The West Seventh-area playground will have live mariachi and other music, a special margarita menu, tamales, pinatas, sopapillas and more.

— robert philpot, star-telegram, "Tip your hat — or your sombrero — to this list of Cinco de Mayo/Kentucky Derby events | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 2 May 2018
Poon dropped to her knees to snap a photo of him standing in front of the pinata.

— devin kelly, Anchorage Daily News, "Glaciers and a birthday party: What it’s like to be a famous Alaska Instagram dog," 1 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'piñata.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of piñata

Origin and Etymology of piñata

Spanish piñata, literally, pot, from Italian pignatta, probably from pigna pine cone — more at pignoli

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First Known Use: 1868

in the meaning defined above

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PIÑATA Defined for English Language Learners

piñata

noun

Definition of piñata for English Language Learners

: a decorated container filled with candies, fruits, and gifts that is hung up at parties or celebrations and hit with a stick by children until it is broken and the things inside it fall out