raffia

noun

raf·​fia ˈra-fē-ə How to pronounce raffia (audio)
: the fiber of the raffia palm used especially as cord for tying and weaving

Examples of raffia 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.
The neckline was detailed in raffia, and the whole piece was finished with glass crystal rhinestones, seed beads, and glass beads. — Christian Allaire, Vogue, 15 Oct. 2026 Men’s accessories encompass bags in tactile raffia, calfskin and denim for a relaxed summer mood with its clean contemporary shapes and artisanal details. — Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026 And then there’s the use of fibers like raffia, which is turned into clothing using techniques like lace-making, applique and quilting. — CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026 Pair it with thin flip-flops and a raffia bag for the perfect beachy look. — Isabel Bekele, InStyle, 18 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for raffia

Word History

Etymology

Malagasy rafia

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of raffia was in 1850

Phrases Containing raffia

Browse Nearby Words

raffe
raffia
raffia palm
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

raffia

noun
raf·​fia ˈraf-ē-ə How to pronounce raffia (audio)
: fiber from a palm of Madagascar and Africa used as a cord for weaving various articles (as baskets or hats) and for tying
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All