Standard Lemma guide

pan-pan

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /pæn.pæn/

1

noun

Meaning 1

A radio call indicating a minor emergency requiring some assistance, or priority in handling, but not endangering the safety of the vessel or those aboard.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: aeronautics, aerospace, aviation, business, economics, engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, sciences, shipping, transport

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A Japanese prostitute who catered to American GIs in post-WWII occupied Japan.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From French panne (“breakdown”), reduplicated.

From Japanese パンパン (panpan), an ellipsis of パンパンガール (panpangāru).