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In Japan, a geisha is a member of a professional class of women whose occupation is to entertain men. She must be adept at singing, dancing, and playing the samisen (a three-stringed musical instrument), in addition to being skilled at making conversation. The geisha system is thought to have emerged in the 17th century to provide a class of well-trained entertainers set apart from courtesans and prostitutes: though geisha sometimes had sexual relationships with clients, they were supposed to entertain primarily through their accomplishments. The numbers of geisha have declined from some 80,000 in the 1920s to a few thousand at present, almost all confined to Tokyo and Kyoto, where they are patronized by only the wealthiest businessmen and most influential politicians.
Examples of geisha in a Sentence
Jonathan Rowe, SPIN, 18 Dec. 2024
The courtesans were trained in music, etiquette and dance and the women of the area were a social symbol for the elite, with their presence at ceremonies a statement of class and wealth akin to Japan's geishas.
—Saman Shafiq, USA TODAY, 30 Apr. 2024
There was controversy in 2015 when Katy Perry dressed up as a geisha for her performance at the American Music Awards.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week Uk, theweek, 1 Mar. 2024
And in Kyoto, officials recently implemented a ban on tourist photography in certain historic areas following reports of visitors harassing geisha.
—Connor Sturges, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 May 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Geisha.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/geisha. Accessed 30 Dec. 2024.
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geisha
noun
Japanese, from gei "art" and -sha "person"
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