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 Almost everything on the menu, which includes pastas, paninis, sandwiches, seafood, salads, is made from scratch. Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 27 June 2024 In addition to pizza, diners can find street snacks like sausage arancini and zucchini fries as well as paninis, salads and small plates. Michelle Deal-Zimmerman, Baltimore Sun, 24 June 2024 Other menu options include charcuterie boards, paninis, soups and salads. Endia Fontanez, The Arizona Republic, 21 June 2024 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 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 7 Jul. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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