manga

noun

man·​ga ˈmäŋ-gə 

plural manga also mangas

: Japanese comic books and graphic novels considered collectively as a genre

The characters' faces beam the big-eyed, manically jolly winsomeness that in anime and manga signals contentment.

—Peter Schjeldahl

also : an individual comic book or graphic novel of the manga genre

This black-and-white manga is based on the Japanese animated TV series of the same name …

—Library Journal

Examples of manga in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The show is based on a manga series currently being serialized in Weekly Shonen Jump, and tells the coming-of-age love story of high school students devoted to their club activities. —Billboard Japan, Billboard, 18 Mar. 2025

The manga consists of 126 chapters spread over 15 volumes, which is roughly the length of two seasons of the main series anime, suggesting this series might be split up into multiple parts. —Oliver Brandt, Newsweek, 13 Mar. 2025

While the Hollywood movie strayed quite a ways off from the original novel in terms of the story, the manga was far more faithful. —Ollie Barder, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

The thoughtful activities even extend to the kids' club, where little ones can drop in on manga sketching classes and photography workshops. —Jacqui Gifford, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, comic, cartoon, from man- involuntary, aimless + -ga picture

First Known Use

circa 1951, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for manga

• ganga
• pampanga

Kids Definition

manga

noun

man·​ga ˈmäŋ-gə 

: a Japanese comic book or graphic novel