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

Based on Masashi Kishimoto’s long-running manga series, Naruto follows a misunderstood adolescent ninja working to clear his name and polish his powers. —Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 12 July 2025

Netflix has set September 25 for the Season 3 premiere of Alice in Borderland, the live-action Japanese thriller series based on Haro Aso’s manga series of the same name. —Denise Petski, Deadline, 7 July 2025

The Five Star Stories is arguably one of the most popular modern manga series ever made and has been serialized in Newtype magazine since 1986. —Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 5 July 2025

The partners clearly feel that audiences around the world are ready to cheer Sukeban creations at a time when Japanese culture and content, including anime and manga, are in demand. —Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 3 July 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