pinup

1 of 2

noun

pin·​up ˈpin-ˌəp How to pronounce pinup (audio)
: something fastened to a wall: such as
a
: a photograph or poster of a person considered to have glamorous qualities
b
: something (such as a lamp) designed for wall attachment

pinup

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of or relating to pinups
male pinup calendars
2
: designed for hanging on a wall
a pinup lamp

Examples of pinup in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Five years ago, before the Perelman pinups, David Pecker was the chief financial officer of the former Diamandis Communications magazine group, a job seemingly more appropriate for a follower than for a leader of industry. — Rebecca Mead, Vulture, 21 Feb. 2026 Both are glamorous pinups famous for looking good in a bathing suit. — Richard Johnson, New York Daily News, 20 July 2025
Adjective
Andy Warhol, working from a photograph that had appeared in a pinup magazine featuring Mat Queens, created a silk screen of Drexler as Rosa, mid-lunge, at once menacing and seductive. — Leslie Camhi, New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2026 Starring Jonathan Taylor Thomas, this movie also provides a capsule of ‘90s heartthrob history, with Thomas at the height of his pinup fame. — Sarah Scott, Parents, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for pinup

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1943, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1941, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pinup was in 1941

Phrases Containing pinup

Rhymes for pinup

See All Rhymes for pinup

Browse Nearby Words

pinulus
pinup
pinup girl
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pinup.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pinup. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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