playa

1 of 2

noun (1)

pla·​ya ˈplī-ə How to pronounce playa (audio)
: the flat-floored bottom of an undrained desert basin that becomes at times a shallow lake

playa

2 of 2

noun (2)

variant spelling of player sense f

Examples of playa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
The youngest Burner ever made an exodus from the playa that will go down as one of the most talked-about. Siobhan McAndrew, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025 The dusty lake bed is susceptible to flooding, and excessive rain can turn the playa into a muddy expanse. Denise Chow, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2025 Burning Man champions self-reliance, and attendees are responsible for sourcing their own food, water, and shelter while on the playa. Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 25 Aug. 2025 David Swindler, from the United States, came in third place within the category for his portfolio featuring flamingoes, pelicans and a desert playa. Christian Thorsberg, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for playa

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Spanish, literally, beach, from Late Latin plagia — more at plage

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of playa was in 1854

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Playa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playa. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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