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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 This two-piece tankini covers like a one-piece, but offers a little more breathing room. — Hannah Oh, Seventeen, 21 Apr. 2022 Throw this fun leopard print rash guard over a bralette, tankini, or sports bra to keep the sun off your shoulders, and pair it with an ultra high-waist reversible print bottom. — Ashlea Halpern, Condé Nast Traveler, 18 May 2021 In the snaps, Jill is posing around her backyard, soaking up the sun in various floral tankini tops and bottoms. — Katie Campione, PEOPLE.com, 13 May 2021 Thousands of shoppers are on the lookout for cute tankini swimsuits this season. — Sanah Faroke, Southern Living, 21 Apr. 2021 For the matching moment, Kardashian sported a black ribbed monokini while Chicago wore a black tankini with black shorts. — Georgia Slater, PEOPLE.com, 8 Apr. 2021 Brighten your beach look in this duo from Swim Solutions featuring classic bottoms paired with a flowy high-low tankini top. — Mark Heim | Mheim@al.com, al, 8 July 2020 The same cannot be said for tops: With so many different cuts—triangle, bandeau, halter, underwire, tankini—achieving the perfect fit requires a little more experimentation, trial and error, and even some expert advice. — Glamour, 24 May 2019 Whether that is a one-piece, a tankini, a high-waisted brief and bikini top, or a little string bikini, wear it. — Hunter Mcgrady, Teen Vogue, 29 May 2018 See More

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