sari

noun

sa·​ri ˈsär-ē How to pronounce sari (audio)
variants or less commonly saree
: a garment of southern Asian women that consists of several yards of lightweight cloth draped so that one end forms a skirt and the other a head or shoulder covering

Illustration of sari

Illustration of sari

Examples of sari 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 bride followed a tradition of wearing red for her Indian ceremony the next day, choosing a red Sabyasachi sari with vintage motifs of rickshaws and gramophones. — Shelby Wax, Vogue, 1 Sep. 2026 By the grace of God for your mother and her Church, Trust the process for theirs; a sari or a muumuu or a bubu in her temple, Lululemon or Lilly Pulitzer in theirs. — Taiye Selasi, New Yorker, 31 May 2026 From there, the surface moved into denser embroidery and openwork, with the original sari’s sheer, lace-like quality still visible through the skirt and side draping. — Maggie Clancy, Footwear News, 10 May 2026 The Indian billionaire heir, 34, shimmered at the 2026 Met Gala on Monday, May 4, in a gold sari and a sculptural cape that acted as a halo of sorts. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for sari

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu sāṛī, from Sanskrit śāṭī strip of cloth

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sari was in 1785

Rhymes for sari

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Browse Nearby Words

Sargon II
sari
sarin
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Cite this Entry

“Sari.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sari. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

sari

noun
sa·​ri
variants also saree
ˈsär-ē How to pronounce sari (audio)
: a garment worn by women in southern Asia that consists of a long cloth draped around the body and head or shoulder

More from Merriam-Webster on sari

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sari

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