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Definition of dinghy

dinghy

/ˈdɪŋ.ɡi/
ding · hy
Plural:dinghies
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dinghy Lexical Profile

dinghy Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A small boat typically carried or towed by a larger vessel to serve as a tender, lifeboat, or auxiliary craft.

Example

"After dropping anchor in the deep bay, the crew used a dinghy to row ashore and gather supplies."

2

A small inflatable rubber or plastic boat, often used for recreation, short excursions, or emergencies.

Example

"The children spent the warm summer afternoon paddling their inflatable dinghy around the shallow lake."

3

A small open sailing boat used mostly for recreation or competitive racing.

Example

"She learned to sail as a teenager by racing a small dinghy at the local yacht club."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for dinghy

• Rhymes for dinghy

• Nearby Words

dingbats
dingdong
dinger
dinghy
dinginess
dingmans falls
dingo

Word Origin & Etymology

Early 19th century: borrowed from Hindi 'ḍiṅgī' or Bengali 'ḍiṅgi', denoting a small riverine boat.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Dinghy. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/dinghy
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