playa

American  

[plahy-uh] / ˈplaɪ ə /

noun

1. Western U.S. the sandy, salty, or mud-caked flat floor of a desert basin having interior drainage, usually occupied by a shallow lake during or after prolonged, heavy rains.

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playa British  

/ ˈplɑːjə, ˈplaja /

noun

1. (in the US) a temporary lake, or its dry often salty bed, in a desert basin

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playa Scientific  

/ plī′ə /

1. A dry lake bed at the bottom of a desert basin, sometimes temporarily covered with water. Playas have no vegetation and are among the flattest geographical features in the world.

2. Also called sink

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Etymology

Origin of playa

1850–55, < Spanish: shore < Late Latin plagia; see plage

Example Sentences

The playa is arranged as a semicircle, and radial streets are named as if their position were a clock face.

From Salon • Oct. 27, 2025

The Mayan Warrior was back on the playa by 2024, looking flashier than ever — and it ought to, considering it cost nearly $3 million.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 23, 2025

“We started thinking, ‘What is playa to us?’”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2025

Prior research suggests that dust particles from newly exposed playa are more susceptible to wind erosion.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2024

I'm contemplatin, preparing to shut down all your playa hatin, Dad says.

From "The Crossover" by Kwame Alexander