Panama hat

American

noun

a hat made of finely plaited young leaves of the jipijapa, a palmlike plant of Central and South America.

Panama hat British

noun

Often shortened to: panama. Panama. (sometimes not capital) a hat made of the plaited leaves of the jipijapa plant of Central and South America

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Panama hat

First recorded in 1825–35

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.

See Examples For:

Panama hat

One recent afternoon at Avenal City Hall, Preciado, wearing a Panama hat and still calling himself mayor, said he would gladly step down—if the courts make him.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

He crossed the finishing line with his gaze obscured by the low brim of a black Panama hat.

From Seattle Times ● Oct. 29, 2023

Valentina Lorini hangs handwoven black trimmings used for the Panama hat range of Stefano Ricci.Credit...

From New York Times ● Jul. 11, 2022

And for decades, his Panama hat and mustached grin made him an immediately recognizable sight around Chavez Ravine.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 7, 2022

Today he was wearing a white linen suit and a Panama hat.

From Full of Beans by Jennifer L. Holm

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023