samurai

noun

sam·​u·​rai ˈsa-mə-ˌrī How to pronounce samurai (audio)
ˈsam-yə-
plural samurai
1
: a military retainer of a Japanese daimyo practicing the code of conduct of Bushido
2
: the warrior aristocracy of Japan

Examples of samurai 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.
The mecha are also based on US military aircraft, for the most part, and there is far greater cultural alignment compared to Gundam and its vestigial samurai design motifs. Ollie Barder, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025 Yukio Mishima was a great writer, but the manner of his death, by seppuku, slitting his stomach with a samurai sword, may now be better known to most people than his novels or plays—a pity, because many of his novels are very much worth reading. Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 9 Jan. 2025 These traditional inns date back to the 8th century A.D. and many of the earliest ones were located along the Tokaido route, which connected current-day Tokyo and Kyoto, providing respite for nomadic samurai and traders. Christina Liao, Vogue, 3 Jan. 2025 At once a steely samurai, a loyal servant, a broken person, and a woman aching to be loved. Maggie Fremont, Vulture, 27 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for samurai 

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of samurai was in 1727

Dictionary Entries Near samurai

Cite this Entry

“Samurai.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/samurai. Accessed 31 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

samurai

noun
sam·​u·​rai ˈsam-(y)ə-ˌrī How to pronounce samurai (audio)
plural samurai
: a warrior serving a Japanese feudal lord and practicing a code of conduct which valued honor over life

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