: the fiber of the raffia palm used especially as cord for tying and weaving
Examples of raffia in a Sentence
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To this day, the Kuba people fashion the textiles out of raffia, a strong and flexible natural fiber, harvested in the DR Congo’s Kasai region, from the leaves of a native palm tree.
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Virginia Brown, Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026
The brand’s recent sandal edits have highlighted similar kitten-heel options in metallic napa, positioning Raquel alongside higher-heel evening styles and raffia platforms.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 23 Feb. 2026
An Upholstered Pick If your coastal aesthetics lean more Atlantic than Mediterranean, opt for a four poster bed decked out in a woven raffia fabric.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
Platform sandals with natural fabrics—think espadrilles, raffia-weave soles, and the like—extend the silhouette when paired with wide-leg jeans.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 15 Feb. 2026
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Virginia Brown, Charlotte Observer, 24 Feb. 2026
The brand’s recent sandal edits have highlighted similar kitten-heel options in metallic napa, positioning Raquel alongside higher-heel evening styles and raffia platforms.
—Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 23 Feb. 2026
An Upholstered Pick If your coastal aesthetics lean more Atlantic than Mediterranean, opt for a four poster bed decked out in a woven raffia fabric.
—Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 19 Feb. 2026
Platform sandals with natural fabrics—think espadrilles, raffia-weave soles, and the like—extend the silhouette when paired with wide-leg jeans.
—Alex Sales, Glamour, 15 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for raffia
Cite this Entry
“Raffia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/raffia. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
raffia
noun
raf·fia
ˈraf-ē-ə 
: fiber from a palm of Madagascar and Africa used as a cord for weaving various articles (as baskets or hats) and for tying
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