panini

noun

pa·​ni·​ni pə-ˈnē-nē How to pronounce panini (audio)
variants or less commonly panino
plural panini or paninis
: a usually grilled sandwich made with Italian bread

Note: Panini is a plural form in Italian but is commonly used as both a singular and a plural in English. Its use as a singular has given rise the variant plural form paninis. The use of panino as a singular form in English has become relatively uncommon as panini has become established as the usual singular.

On each visit, someone at our table invariably orders a paniniJodi Wright
At the back of the shop are paninis, freshly brewed coffee and two tubs of homemade soups.M. H. Reed

Examples of panini in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Midday brings panini and snacks, while in the evening, burgers, pasta, and salads pair with wine or cocktails. Carolyn B. Heller, Travel + Leisure, 18 June 2024 Press down hard with the top of the panini press until the outside of the bread is crispy and the meats are heated through — about 3 or 4 minutes. Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 12 June 2024 At a panini spot in Old Towne Orange, Daniels quickly disabused me of my low-key transphobia. Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2024 In addition to red and white pizzas, the menu features tapas, paninis, salads and desserts. Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 12 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for panini 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'panini.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Italian, diminutive of pane bread, from Latin panis — more at food

First Known Use

1955, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of panini was in 1955

Dictionary Entries Near panini

Cite this Entry

“Panini.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/panini. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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