a very brief, close-fitting, two-piece bathing suit for women or girls.
a very brief, close-fitting pair of bathing trunks for men or boys.
Often bikinis. underwear briefs that are fitted low on the hip or below it.
1945–50; < French, apparently named after Bikini
A bikini is a two-piece women's bathing suit. Bikinis are usually skimpy, and a particularly small one inspired a song from 1960 called "Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini.” We don't normally associate atomic bomb tests with cute bathing suits, but this one's an exception. The bikini is named after the Pacific atoll of the same name, where an atomic bomb was exploded in 1946. The reason a tiny bathing suit is named after a tiny island isn’t clear. Although a bikini isn't as explosive as a bomb, it is likely to be worn by a bombshell.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
WSJ | Buy Side: Whether you prefer a one-piece or a classic string bikini, these stylist-approved women’s swimsuits are flattering and functional.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 6, 2026
In a brutal little detail, he contrasts Danny’s bikini groupies with the women in Rick’s crowd, who clomp toward him with toilet paper stuck to their shoes.
From Los Angeles Times • May 28, 2026
Turkish swimwear brand Mayovera showcased a collection of burkinis - a mix of the terms "burka" and "bikini" - covering everything except the face, hands and feet.
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
Consider a hypothetical woman in her late 40s who is just looking to lose 10 pounds before summer so that she can finally wear that bikini she bought a decade ago.
From Slate • Mar. 22, 2026
Audrey wore a bikini, Jenna, a sporty black tankini, and I had on an oversize T-shirt over my striped one-piece.
From "Keep It Together, Keiko Carter" by Debbi Michiko Florence
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
