: 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.
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
Reuters, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
His cousins living in the east Asian nation had also warned him of the euphoria at his decision to switch from representing England to the country of his mother’s and stepfather’s birth.
—Rob Tanner, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2025
Hosted by Kiran Deol, the event celebrates the achievements of Asian and Pacific Islander women and non-binary artists, artisans, and leading voices in entertainment.
—Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Asian
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Adjective
The Southeast Asian industrial hub announced in past weeks a series of measures, including boosting imports, to reduce its trade surplus with Washington, which exceeded $123 billion last year, after US President Donald Trump flagged wide-ranging tariffs on trading partners.
—Reuters, CNN Money, 26 Mar. 2025
His cousins living in the east Asian nation had also warned him of the euphoria at his decision to switch from representing England to the country of his mother’s and stepfather’s birth.
—Rob Tanner, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2025
Noun
While answers spanned the globe, Asian and Northeastern, Eastern, and Central European cities tended to rise to the top.
—Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 27 Mar. 2025
Hosted by Kiran Deol, the event celebrates the achievements of Asian and Pacific Islander women and non-binary artists, artisans, and leading voices in entertainment.
—Laura Sirikul, Forbes.com, 27 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Asian
Cite this Entry
“Asian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Asian. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
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