samurai

noun

sam·​u·​rai ˈsa-mə-ˌrī How to pronounce samurai (audio)
ˈsam-yə-
plural samurai
1
: a military retainer of a Japanese daimyo practicing the code of conduct of Bushido
2
: the warrior aristocracy of Japan

Examples of samurai in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Mishima’s choice of a samurai suicide was almost a pastiche of Japanese tradition, a Kabuki fantasy, another illusion. Ian Buruma, The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025 Yasuke is more capable in combat as part of the samurai order, while Naoe runs into trouble when facing four or five adversaries at once. EW.com, 19 Dec. 2024 After opening the Tokyo Film Festival, Shiraishi’s lusty samurai slash-’em-up will march into Japanese cinemas on Nov. 1. Richard Kuipers, Variety, 30 Oct. 2024 Gamers will be able to choose to play from the perspective of two protagonists: Naoe, a female shinobi, and Yasuke, an African samurai. Meredith G. White, The Arizona Republic, 14 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for samurai 

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of samurai was in 1727

Dictionary Entries Near samurai

Cite this Entry

“Samurai.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/samurai. Accessed 17 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

samurai

noun
sam·​u·​rai ˈsam-(y)ə-ˌrī How to pronounce samurai (audio)
plural samurai
: a warrior serving a Japanese feudal lord and practicing a code of conduct which valued honor over life

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