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
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.
Adjective
Irish, Jewish, Mexican, Asian, Indian and more — nearly all of us share roots with immigrant ancestors who braved hardship and uncertainty to build lives here. Josh Becker, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024 In the state’s second-most-populous county, Middlesex, for example, eligible Asian American voters make up almost 38% of the electorate. Kimmy Yam, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
Some questioned why Schmidt was singling out Asian Americans given that there were people of other backgrounds — white, Black, Middle Eastern — who also supported the math honors programs. Niraj Warikoo, Detroit Free Press, 28 Oct. 2024 Hwang Dong-hyuk, who was the first Asian to win an Emmy for outstanding directing in a drama series, is back in the saddle, resuming his role as director, writer and producer. Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 28 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Asian 

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 21 Nov. 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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