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Definition of panama

panama

/ˈpæn.ə.mɑː/
pan · a · ma
Plural:panamas
•
Adjective:Panamanian
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panama Lexical Profile

panama Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A transcontinental country in Central America and South America, located on the isthmus connecting North and South America, and bordered by Costa Rica, Colombia, the Caribbean Sea, and the Pacific Ocean.

2

A wide-brimmed, lightweight hat made from the plaited leaves of the toquilla palm, traditionally manufactured in Ecuador.

Example

"He wore a lightweight linen suit and a crisp panama to protect himself from the intense tropical sun."

• Nearby Words

pan
panacea
panache
panama
panama city
panamanian
panamint rattlesnake

Word Origin & Etymology

Named after the capital city founded in 1519, widely believed to originate from an indigenous Cueva word meaning 'abundance of fish' or 'abundance of butterflies.' The 'panama' hat is named for the Isthmus of Panama, a major historical shipping hub, despite the hats originating in Ecuador.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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