: 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
Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Le Table's menu features tasty small plates with Mediterranean, Asian, and Latin American flavors in an open-air setting.
—Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2025
Brent Lang, Variety, 19 Feb. 2025
Meals here showcase the spices of central African cuisine but also veer into Indian and Southeast Asian, favorites of the chef.
—Laurie Werner, Forbes, 18 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Asian
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Adjective
Michelle Yeoh made history in 2023 as the first Asian actress to win the Oscar for Best Actress.
—Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Le Table's menu features tasty small plates with Mediterranean, Asian, and Latin American flavors in an open-air setting.
—Elizabeth Rhodes, Travel + Leisure, 2 Mar. 2025
Noun
Kim is a member of the AMPAS Executive Branch, an advisor to Asian Pacific community non-profit Goldhouse, a member of the Audit Committee for the Board of Film Independent, and is an Adjunct Faculty Member at the Stern School of Business at New York University.
—Brent Lang, Variety, 19 Feb. 2025
Meals here showcase the spices of central African cuisine but also veer into Indian and Southeast Asian, favorites of the chef.
—Laurie Werner, Forbes, 18 Feb. 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 12 Mar. 2025.
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