Wagyu

noun

Wa·​gyu ˈwä-(ˌ)gyü 

variants or less commonly wagyu

plural Wagyu also wagyu

1

: any of four strains of a breed of black or red Japanese cattle valued for their highly marbled meat

In the U.S., Japanese Wagyu cows have been crossbred with those of other breeds to produce unsurpassably tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef.

—Saveur

Note: Wagyu were developed in Japan in the late 1800s to 1910 by crossbreeding native cattle with European breeds.

2

or Wagyu beef or less commonly wagyu beef : beef from Wagyu cattle

The surface of my Wagyu was intricately laced with delicate veins of off-white fat—by laboratory measurement, three times more marbling fat than U.S. prime-grade beef, though with slightly less cholesterol.

—Jeffrey Steingarten

Wagyu beef is tender and flavorful because of its intramuscular fat, or marbling.

—Sam Gugino

compare kobe beef

Examples of Wagyu in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fish from Toyosu Market in Tokyo and Australian Wagyu from Florida-local purveyors succumb to the team’s technique in sauce and consommé and on-bone braising. —Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025

On the weekends, the menu expands with heartier options like the Fountain Burger made with Wagyu beef, balsamic onion jam, arugula, gruyere and blue cheese on a brioche bun and the Pan Seared Salmon with roasted cauliflower, romesco sauce and crispy capers. —Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

There’s also the 10-course Harvest menu, a $198-per-person feast that includes crispy pork belly, barbecued butternut squash and Japanese Wagyu beef. —Sarah Linn, Sacramento Bee, 28 Feb. 2025

Ela features casual dishes like Duck Leg Biryani, Tandoori Cab Hanger Steak Skewer, chutneys and other street snacks, while Mango leans into daily soups, salads and handhelds from Wagyu beef carpaccio to roasted turkey club. —Rod Stafford Hagwood, Sun Sentinel, 25 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Japanese wagyū, from wa "Japan, Japanese" + gyū "cattle, cow"

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 1