: 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
Zac Ntim, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2025
Lower tariffs, the allure of cutting-edge battery technology, and the growing popularity of Chinese electric car brands in the UK and other European and Asian markets further contribute to increasing exports, which are expected to cross 3 million units by 2025.
—Sarwant Singh, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Paolo Confino, Fortune Asia, 14 Jan. 2025
Planning The Perfect San Francisco Arts Weekend Visitors to San Francisco arriving for FOG on Thursday, and locals, can jumpstart their arts binge weekend taking advantage of late-night hours on Thursdays at the Asian Art Museum, until 8:00 PM, and SFMOMA, until 9:00 PM.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for Asian 
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Adjective
This year, genre books are well represented with titles such as the Asian folk horror book Dog (Irô) by Angelo R. Lacuesta and the feminist gothic comedy Mediterranean Gothic by Marina Pierri heading to the market.
—Zac Ntim, Deadline, 13 Jan. 2025
Lower tariffs, the allure of cutting-edge battery technology, and the growing popularity of Chinese electric car brands in the UK and other European and Asian markets further contribute to increasing exports, which are expected to cross 3 million units by 2025.
—Sarwant Singh, Forbes, 13 Jan. 2025
Noun
Malaysia is now hoping to leverage its position as the chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the international group representing the region’s various national governments, to bolster its global presence.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune Asia, 14 Jan. 2025
Planning The Perfect San Francisco Arts Weekend Visitors to San Francisco arriving for FOG on Thursday, and locals, can jumpstart their arts binge weekend taking advantage of late-night hours on Thursdays at the Asian Art Museum, until 8:00 PM, and SFMOMA, until 9:00 PM.
—Chadd Scott, Forbes, 14 Jan. 2025
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 Jan. 2025.
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