dashiki
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of dashiki
From Yoruba dàńṣíkí, from Hausa dán cíkí (with imploded d )
Explanation
A dashiki is an African shirt that's loose and colorful. You'll stand out in a crowd if you wear a dashiki. If you like wearing bright colors and being comfortable, you might enjoy wearing a dashiki. This pullover garment, mainly worn by men, is a staple wherever West Africans are found. It’s colorful, loose, and long. Someone wearing a dashiki is easy to spot. The closest type of American shirt is probably a Hawaiian shirt, which is also quite colorful. If you prefer clothes that are tight or drab, dashikis aren’t for you. Dashiki comes from Yoruba, a Nigerian language.
Vocabulary lists containing dashiki
Joyous Kwanzaa! Vocabulary Worth Celebrating
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Dear Martin
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Skin I'm In
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He was tieless, wearing a solid‑black dashiki, and he spoke softly at first, almost cautious.
From Slate • Jun. 16, 2025
And it's almost like a tipping point situation because that's when the corporations are changing, the people are changing, Mitt Romney's in the street with a dashiki on.
From Salon • Mar. 16, 2024
Earlier this year, Pearson wore a dashiki for his swearing-in ceremony.
From Washington Post • Apr. 28, 2023
He noted the scrutiny he received for wearing a black dashiki — a tunic-like garment that originated in west Africa — for session, rather than a suit and tie.
From Seattle Times • Apr. 9, 2023
Now this very alive girl in front of me is claiming that she is my very dead grandmother—and the creator of this dashiki.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
![]()
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.