plural bikinis
1
a
: a two-piece bathing suit worn by women that does not cover the midriff see also string bikini, tankini
b
: a short snug swimsuit worn by men
2
: a pair of low-cut briefs (see brief entry 2 sense 4)
Launched in May, the underwear brand for men and women includes bikinis, … G-strings and boxer briefs.—
Phyllis Furman
Phyllis Furman… ultra low-rise jeans with a built-in bikini or thong.—Sunday Tribune (South Africa)
—often used before another nounSunday Tribune (South Africa)Bikini briefs are usually lower than the true waist, often at the hips.—Clifford Pugh
Clifford PughExamples of bikini in a Sentence
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What to consider when buying women’s one-piece swimsuits Style
A classic one-piece swimsuit with a tank-style top and a bikini cut bottom is known as a maillot, though this term is rarely used.
—Bestreviews, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
The hard-hitting reggaeton song was supported with the release of a music video featuring Karol and friends skiing on snowy mountain tops in extravagant and glimmering heels and bikini tops and bottoms.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 23 May 2025
Cannes hasn’t been spared from controversy, either: There was Michelle Morgan’s bikini in 1946, La Cicciolina’s topless look in 1988, Madonna’s Jean Paul Gaultier lingerie in 1991, Leila Depina’s barely-there pearl outfit in 2023 and Bella Hadid’s sheer pantyhose dress in 2024, to name just a few.
—Elizabeth Castaldo Lundén, The Conversation, 22 May 2025
The nonstop waves of heat usher in short shorts and bikini tops, in an attempt to regulate body temperature.
—Taylor Crumpton, Time, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bikini
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Bestreviews, Mercury News, 28 May 2025
The hard-hitting reggaeton song was supported with the release of a music video featuring Karol and friends skiing on snowy mountain tops in extravagant and glimmering heels and bikini tops and bottoms.
—Thania Garcia, Variety, 23 May 2025
Cannes hasn’t been spared from controversy, either: There was Michelle Morgan’s bikini in 1946, La Cicciolina’s topless look in 1988, Madonna’s Jean Paul Gaultier lingerie in 1991, Leila Depina’s barely-there pearl outfit in 2023 and Bella Hadid’s sheer pantyhose dress in 2024, to name just a few.
—Elizabeth Castaldo Lundén, The Conversation, 22 May 2025
The nonstop waves of heat usher in short shorts and bikini tops, in an attempt to regulate body temperature.
—Taylor Crumpton, Time, 22 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for bikini
Cite this Entry
“Bikini.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bikini. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bikini
noun
bi·ki·ni
bə-ˈkē-nē 
: a scanty two-piece bathing suit for a girl or woman
Etymology
from French bikini "two-piece bathing suit," from Bikini, atoll in the Marshall Islands
Geographical Definition
Bikini
geographical name
Bi·ki·ni
bi-ˈkē-nē
island (atoll) of the Marshall Islands
Note: Bikini was the site of U.S. atomic bomb tests in 1946 and hydrogen bomb tests in 1954 and 1956.
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