piste

noun

ˈpēst How to pronounce piste (audio)
: trail
especially : a downhill ski trail

Examples of piste 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.
Yet this tiny village has become paradise for finance guys, tech giants, and C-suiters who want to shred 2,000 square miles of off-piste powder and ride a helicopter rather than a ski lift. — Michelle Tchea, Robb Report, 27 Aug. 2026 The incident, which occurred in 1988, took place on March 10, as the royal party was skiing off-piste above the resort of Klosters in Switzerland, according to a BBC report. — Gina Kalsi, PEOPLE, 10 Aug. 2026 In the 1988 incident, the royal party was skiing off-piste—a term that signifies an area outside of standard prepared ski resort runs—when the avalanche hit. — Rachel Burchfield, InStyle, 10 Aug. 2026 This is not the first time a pilot has gone off-piste to send a message. — Charlotte Reck, CNN Money, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for piste

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, from Old Italian pista, from pistare to trample down, pound — more at piston

First Known Use

1696, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of piste was in 1696

Browse Nearby Words

pistareen
piste
pistia
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Piste.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/piste. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on piste

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about piste

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