: 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
Jessie Yeung, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
Turmeric, which comes from the root of Curcuma longa and is integral in South Asian cooking, packs all kinds of potential benefits, from chronic pain relief to muscle recovery.
—Kristine Thomason, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2024
Max Goldbart, Deadline, 1 Dec. 2024
Republicans in the county for years have sought to attract Latinos and Asian Americans to their party with mixed success, and Trump’s performance could signal gains among these voter blocs, as well as Black Americans.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for Asian 
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Adjective
Yoon’s gamble backfired spectacularly, galvanizing many in the vibrant Asian democracy to call for his removal.
—Jessie Yeung, CNN, 14 Dec. 2024
Turmeric, which comes from the root of Curcuma longa and is integral in South Asian cooking, packs all kinds of potential benefits, from chronic pain relief to muscle recovery.
—Kristine Thomason, Vogue, 14 Dec. 2024
Noun
The buzzy project has been unveiled on the eve of the Asian TV Forum & Market in Singapore.
—Max Goldbart, Deadline, 1 Dec. 2024
Republicans in the county for years have sought to attract Latinos and Asian Americans to their party with mixed success, and Trump’s performance could signal gains among these voter blocs, as well as Black Americans.
—Hannah Fry, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for Asian
Dictionary Entries Near Asian
Cite this Entry
“Asian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Asian. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
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