playa

1 of 2

noun (1)

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

noun (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 dust doesn’t come only from the Salton Sea playa. — Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026 The day before kickoff, the playa was hit by a severe dust storm. — Owen Clarke, Outside Online, 25 Aug. 2025 The youngest Burner ever made an exodus from the playa that will go down as one of the most talked-about. — Siobhan McAndrew, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2025 The dusty lake bed is susceptible to flooding, and excessive rain can turn the playa into a muddy expanse. — Denise Chow, NBC news, 25 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for playa

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

First Known Use

Noun (1)

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 10 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on playa

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about playa

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