Asian

1 of 2

adjective

ˈā-zhən How to pronounce Asian (audio)
 also  -shən
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the continent of Asia or its people
Asian vs. Asiatic: Usage Guide

Asian is now solidly preferred to Asiatic; the latter persists mainly in the names of some kinds of flora and fauna.

an Asiatic lily
the Asiatic elephant

Asiatic still has some use as a geographical designator

the Asiatic side of the Bosporus

but has increasingly been considered offensive, especially as associated with the policies of colonialism.

Asian

2 of 2

noun

1
: a native or inhabitant of Asia
2
: a person of Asian descent

Examples of Asian in a Sentence

Noun There are many Asians living in South America.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Prime Video is bullish about the large, diverse and volatile Asian streaming market, driven by growth in India and Japan, the streamer’s top executives responsible for the region have said. Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 Mar. 2024 One Central Asian Ambassador privately admitted to me that advanced semiconductors are illicitly pouring into Russia from his country, with barely any resistance or even detection from any government officials. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld, Fortune, 22 Mar. 2024 Some of her patterns suggest windows, while others resemble Asian or African fabrics. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024 In a fusion of Victorian, Asian, and other periods and regions throughout the world, your eyes are fed with enormous crystal chandeliers, intricate heavy drapes with valences, the requisite palm tree (faux or real), and an animal throw for a touch of whimsy. Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 Mar. 2024 Overdose death rates also increased among Black, Hispanic and Asian people but decreased among White people. Deidre McPhillips, CNN, 21 Mar. 2024 The organization is dedicated to protecting Asian elephants from extinction in the wild and was co-founded by Queen Camilla’s late brother, Mark Shand, who died in 2004. Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 21 Mar. 2024 Though the numbers of immigrants arriving in Portugal has been smaller than in Italy or Spain, Mr. Ventura has cast a recent influx of South Asian immigrants as a threat. Emma Bubola, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024 Joe Biden had just been elected president, with no small amount of help from Black women, and Kamala Harris had just vacated her Senate seat to become the nation’s first Black and South Asian vice president. Erika D. Smith, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2024
Noun
Three other teams will qualify in the U-23 Asian Cup, which begins next month, with one more qualifier coming from an Asian-African confederation playoff. Kevin Baxter, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2024 Many organizations serve very specific geographies or populations, like Asian Americans in central Texas or South Asian young people in New York. Thalia Beaty, Fortune, 19 Mar. 2024 Shanahan received her bachelor's degree from the University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, Washington, studying Asian Studies, Economics and Mandarin Chinese. USA TODAY, 19 Mar. 2024 When unfurled and studied at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Asian Art in Washington, D.C., the scrolls showed colorful portraits of Okinawan royalty. Amy Woodyatt, CNN, 18 Mar. 2024 Another, a Southeast Asian inflected ground beef stir-fry from Carla Lalli Music. Mackenzie Chung Fegan, Bon Appétit, 18 Mar. 2024 In 2021, Chloé Zhao became the second woman — and the first woman of color — to win Best Director; in 2023, Michelle Yeoh became the first Asian Best Actress winner; and, in 2024, Lily Gladstone became the first Native woman nominated for Best Actress. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 15 Mar. 2024 Wong is a rising Hong Kong singer and actor, who on Sunday was co-host of the Asian Film Awards. Patrick Frater, Variety, 15 Mar. 2024 Today, Chopra’s resumé is long and impressive, boasting two Asian Games titles and a Commonwealth Games gold medal on top of his world and Olympic triumphs. George Ramsay, CNN, 11 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Asian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1550, in the meaning defined above

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Asian was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near Asian

Cite this Entry

“Asian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Asian. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Asian

adjective
ˈā-zhən,
ˈā-shən
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Asia or its people
Asian noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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