What does "bikini" mean?
A brief two-piece bathing suit worn by women, especially one that exposes the midriff and navel.
Bikini
/bɪˈkiː.ni/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A brief two-piece bathing suit worn by women, especially one that exposes the midriff and navel.
- Grammar: bikini is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: bathing suit, beachwear-related, bikini atoll, bikini-related.
- Useful contrasts: nonbikini, one piece swimsuit, unrelated.
- Usage evidence: The pretty girl in the bikini was an eye-opener on the beach.
How to use "bikini"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "bikini" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "bikini" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "bikini" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "bikini" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "bikini" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "bathing suit" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "bikini", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A brief two-piece bathing suit worn by women, especially one that exposes the midriff and navel.
"Cole has little but scorn for France's famed Bikini bathing suits. Explains he: " French girls, have short legs. Swimsuits have to be hiked up at the sides to make their legs look longer. ""
- 2 a woman's very brief bathing suit wordnet
- 3 A brief bathing suit covering only the pelvis (equivalent to the bottom portion of a two-piece bikini), worn by any gender.
"We high-schoolers didn't understand why death came in the form of a gorgeous young man with muscles in a skimpy bikini."
- 4 Brief underpants or trousers that reach to the hips rather than the waist.
"Boxer shorts, knitted briefs, and bikinis are the most popular styles in shorts, formerly called “drawers.”"
Proper Noun
- 1 Bikini atoll.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"The pretty girl in the bikini was an eye-opener on the beach."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "bikini"?
Common synonyms include: bathing suit, beachwear-related, bikini atoll, bikini-related, swimwear, swimwear-related.
How do you use "bikini" in a sentence?
The pretty girl in the bikini was an eye-opener on the beach.
How do you pronounce "bikini"?
Pronounced /bɪˈkiː.ni/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Etymology tree Marshallese pik Marshallese ni Marshallese Pikinnibor. German Bikinibor. English Bikinibor. French Bikini French bikinibor. English bikini From French bikini, named after the place name Bikini, from English Bikini, the name of the atoll where the United States tested nuclear weapons in July 1946; it was reckoned that the bathing suit would cause as much excitement as a nuclear bomb. This name was originally from German Bikini, the colonial name of the atoll as part of German New Guinea, and this was derived from Marshallese Pikinni.
Etymology 2
From German Bikini, the colonial name of the atoll as part of German New Guinea, and this was derived from Marshallese Pikinni.