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
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.
The adventures of 16th century samurai and 21st century sous chefs allowed FX to rocket to a new personal best of 93 noms, a significant spike over its previous high of 56 in 2016. Cynthia Littleton, Variety, 17 July 2024 The well of samurai film history in Japan is incredibly deep. Patrick Brzeski, The Hollywood Reporter, 22 Nov. 2024 May’s role is being kept under wraps, as is the plot of the film, which is described as a corporate thriller with a samurai twist. Matt Grobar, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2024 The entire film takes place in a marsh where two women — a mother and a daughter-in-law — make their living by murdering samurai who wander into their swampy territory and selling the warriors' armor for cash. Katie Rife, EW.com, 25 Oct. 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 21 Dec. 2024.

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

More from Merriam-Webster on samurai

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!