tankini

noun

tank·​i·​ni taŋ-ˈkē-nē 

: a woman's two-piece swimsuit consisting of bikini briefs and a tank top

Did you know?

The two-piece swimsuit we call the bikini made its debut on Paris runways in 1946. The word bikini comes from Bikini atoll, the name of one of the Marshall Islands in the western Pacific, where atomic-bomb tests were performed in 1946. One theory of the coinage is that the effect achieved by a scantily clad woman appearing in public may be compared to the effect of an A-bomb blast. Another possible explanation is that the bikini leaves its wearer nearly bare, the way the bomb tests stripped Bikini atoll. In 1985, the tankini began appearing on beaches in the U.S., and the word bikini was combined with tank to create its appropriate name.

Examples of tankini in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Get the best of both worlds with a tankini, which combines the coverage of a one-piece with the flexibility of a bikini. —Averi Baudler, People.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Try this Bandeau tankini top, $91 at Everything But Water. —Nora Colomer, Fox News, 4 Mar. 2025

Simple tankinis in black or neutral tones offer endless possibilities. —Fabiola Medina, Glamour, 16 July 2024

This crinkle-cut tankini set, available for less than $22 at Walmart, gets high marks for its flattering fit and vibrant tie-dye pattern. —Nora Colomer, Fox News, 11 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

blend of tank (top) and bikini

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for tankini

• acini
• aldine
• arsine
• carinii
• cosine
• delphine
• domine
• latine
• leucine
• ovine
• pennine
• porcine

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