# bandana

> English word · Noun · IPA /bænˈdæn.ə/ · frequency rank #39,202

## Definitions
1. A large kerchief, usually colourful and used either as headgear or as a handkerchief, neckerchief, bikini, or sweatband.
2. A style of calico printing, in which white or bright spots are produced upon cloth previously dyed a uniform red or dark colour, by discharging portions of the color by chemical means, while the rest of the cloth is under pressure.

## Etymology
Borrowed from Hindi बंधन (bandhan, “the act of binding, a bond”), from Sanskrit बध्नाति (badhnāti, “he binds”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *bʰendʰ- (“to bind, bond”). Related to Hindi बाँधना (bāndhnā, “to tie”). Doublet of bind.

## Easily confused with
- **bandar** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bandana-vs-bandar)
- **banyan** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bandana-vs-banyan)
- **banding** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bandana-vs-banding)
- **Bandung** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bandana-vs-bandung)
- **banda** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banda-vs-bandana)
- **banana** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/banana-vs-bandana)
- **bananas** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bananas-vs-bandana)
- **bandage** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/bandage-vs-bandana)

## Common misspellings (10)
`abndana`, `badnana`, `banadna`, `bandaan`, `bandanna`, `banddana`, `bandnaa`, `banndana`, `bbandana`, `bnadana`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/bandana