What does bikini mean?
A bikini is a two-piece swimsuit for women, typically consisting of a bra-style top and a pair of briefs that expose much more of the body than a one-piece swimsuit. By extension, the term is sometimes applied to similarly minimal men's swimwear. Introduced shortly after the Second World War, the garment was deliberately named after Bikini Atoll, the Pacific site where the United States had recently conducted atomic tests, reflecting its designer's hope that the new style would have a similarly dramatic impact on popular culture. The bikini quickly became a symbol of leisure, modernity, and, for some, liberation, and it remains a staple of beaches, poolsides, and fashion media worldwide. The word is neutral to informal in register and is frequently modified to describe particular styles — string, bandeau, halter, or tankini. Its cultural resonance makes it far more than a mere item of clothing: it is a shorthand for summertime, youth, and debates about modesty and self-expression.
A two-piece swimsuit for women, comprising a bra-like top and briefs.
"She slipped into her bikini and ran toward the surf."
Often preceded by a modifier indicating cut or style, e.g. 'string bikini', 'halter bikini'.
Very brief men's swim trunks, by analogy with the women's garment.
"European swimmers often favour bikinis over longer board shorts."
Standard plural, formed by adding -s.
"The shop sells bikinis in every colour imaginable."
The bikini was named after the Bikini Atoll nuclear test site in 1946, with its designer hoping it would cause an explosive cultural impact — and he was right.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of bikini
The word 'bikini' was coined in French by designer Louis Réard in 1946 for his new two-piece swimsuit, unveiled in Paris. He named it after Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands, which had been in the news that same year as the site of American nuclear weapons tests; the name implied that the revealing suit would create a comparable sensation. Because the term derives from a Marshallese place name rather than a classical root, it has no cognates in other languages beyond borrowings of the swimsuit term itself.
How bikini is actually used
The word is informal-to-neutral in register and is used widely across English-speaking regions. In fashion contexts, specific styles are distinguished by modifiers (e.g. string bikini, bandeau bikini, tankini). The plural 'bikinis' is standard.
Easily confused with bikini
The capitalized 'Bikini' refers to the Pacific atoll in the Marshall Islands — the site of nuclear tests from which the swimsuit takes its name — while the lowercase common noun means the two-piece swimsuit.