playa

1 of 2

noun

pla·​ya ˈplī-ə How to pronounce playa (audio)
: the flat-floored bottom of an undrained desert basin that becomes at times a shallow lake

playa

2 of 2

variant spelling of player sense f

Examples of playa 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
The designers were mostly united in their distaste for what are known on the playa as Sparkle Ponies. — Henry Alford, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2026 At night, the feathers light up and the whole bird glows across the playa. — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 In recent years, Burning Man has drawn about 70,000 people to the playa 100 miles north of Reno. — Bay Area News Group, Mercury News, 26 Aug. 2026 Burning Man participants are already accustomed to dust storms and poor visibility on the playa. — James Ward, USA Today, 25 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for playa

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Spanish, literally, beach, from Late Latin plagia — more at plage

First Known Use

Noun

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of playa was in 1854

Rhymes for playa

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Browse Nearby Words

play
playa
playability
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Cite this Entry

“Playa.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/playa. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on playa

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about playa

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