tankini
C1Informal, commercial/retail, fashion journalism
Definition
Meaning
A two-piece swimsuit for women consisting of a tank top-style upper and matching bikini bottoms.
A swimwear style offering more torso coverage than a traditional bikini while maintaining a two-piece design. Sometimes extended metaphorically to describe hybrid items that combine elements of two things.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Portmanteau of 'tank top' and 'bikini'. Usually implies a more modest or practical swimwear option compared to a string bikini. The concept is one of a functional compromise between coverage and style.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in core meaning or usage. The term is used identically in both varieties.
Connotations
Conveys a similar sense of practical, modest, or sporty swimwear in both cultures.
Frequency
Equally common in both UK and US fashion and retail contexts. Slightly more likely to appear in women's lifestyle magazines and online shopping sites than in formal discourse.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
She wore a [ADJECTIVE] tankini.The tankini is made of [MATERIAL].I prefer a tankini to a one-piece.Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None specific to this word]”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in retail, fashion, e-commerce, and manufacturing contexts related to swimwear.
Academic
Rare; might appear in cultural studies, fashion history, or marketing papers discussing swimwear trends.
Everyday
Common in conversations about shopping for swimwear, holidays, and beach attire.
Technical
Used in fashion design, textile, and pattern-making specifications.
Examples
By Part of Speech
adjective
British English
- She opted for a tankini style for her holiday in Spain.
- The tankini look is perfect for beach volleyball.
American English
- She chose a tankini style for her vacation in Florida.
- The tankini look is ideal for a family pool day.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- She has a blue tankini.
- I like my new tankini.
- I bought a red tankini for my summer holiday.
- A tankini is more comfortable than a bikini for swimming.
- The tankini offers a practical compromise between a one-piece and a traditional bikini.
- Many women prefer a tankini for its modesty and freedom of movement.
- The resurgence of the tankini in this season's collections reflects a shift towards more versatile and body-positive swimwear.
- Fashion critics noted the tankini's evolution from a purely functional garment to a style statement in its own right.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: TANK top + biKINI = TANKINI. It's a tank top fused with a bikini.
Conceptual Metaphor
HYBRIDITY IS A BLEND: The word itself is a blend, representing the garment's blended nature (coverage + two-piece style).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'танкини' without context, as it's a loanword. Explain it's a specific type of купальник (two-piece with a longer top).
- Do not confuse with 'бикини' (bikini), which typically has a smaller top.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'tankinni' or 'tankinny'.
- Using it to refer to any two-piece swimsuit (it specifically implies a tank-style top).
- Confusing it with a 'monokini' (a one-piece with cut-outs).
Practice
Quiz
What is the defining feature of a tankini?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Both are two-piece swimsuits, but a tankini has a tank top-style upper that covers the torso, while a traditional bikini has a much smaller top (often triangles or a bandeau).
Tankinis are worn by anyone who prefers more torso coverage, modesty, or practicality than a bikini offers. They are popular for active swimming, family settings, or personal comfort.
The term is a 20th/21st century portmanteau, gaining popularity in the 1990s and 2000s as the style became a mainstream swimwear option.
While 'tankini' is a term almost exclusively used for women's swimwear, the conceptual style for men might be compared to a swim shirt or rash vest paired with swim trunks, though it is not called a tankini.