issei

noun

is·​sei (ˌ)ē-ˈsā How to pronounce issei (audio)
ˈē-ˌsā
plural issei
often capitalized
: a Japanese immigrant especially to the U.S.

Examples of issei in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
And then there were the issei who resisted going home at all—afraid of white people, angry with America. Jake Whitney, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 Nov. 2024 Photo: issei kato/Reuters Mercari’s app allows people to buy and sell mostly used goods such as jeans, handbags and games. Takashi Mochizuki, WSJ, 19 June 2018

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, literally, first generation

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of issei was in 1937

Dictionary Entries Near issei

Cite this Entry

“Issei.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/issei. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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