: of, relating to, or characteristic of the continent of Asia or its people
Asian vs. Asiatic: Usage Guide
Asian is now solidly preferred to Asiatic; the latter persists mainly in the names of some kinds of flora and fauna.
an Asiatic lily
the Asiatic elephant
Asiatic still has some use as a geographical designator
the Asiatic side of the Bosporus
but has increasingly been considered offensive, especially as associated with the policies of colonialism.
1
: a native or inhabitant of Asia
2
: a person of Asian descent
Examples of Asian in a Sentence
Noun
There are many Asians living in South America.
Recent Examples on the Web
John Hopewell, Variety, 12 June 2026
The city, which has grown 61% in the last decade, is now majority minority with census data showing the population as 46% white, 34% Asian, 10% Latino and 10% Black.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Accolades include a Grand Jury Special Mention award, Sheffield Docfest; Best Documentary Feature, Nashville Film Festival; Best Documentary Feature Award, San Diego Asian Film Festival.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for Asian
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Adjective
The Shanghai Remakes event, organized by Spain’s Institute of Cinematography and Audiovisual Arts (ICAA), will see each company talk up the Asian market remake potential of their title for 10 minutes.
—John Hopewell, Variety, 12 June 2026
The city, which has grown 61% in the last decade, is now majority minority with census data showing the population as 46% white, 34% Asian, 10% Latino and 10% Black.
—Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 12 June 2026
Noun
At Sunda New Asian, a sushi roll with creamy lobster, wagyu tataki, foie gras aioli, truffle vinaigrette, jalapeño, wasabi aioli.
—Aly Walansky, Forbes.com, 13 June 2026
Accolades include a Grand Jury Special Mention award, Sheffield Docfest; Best Documentary Feature, Nashville Film Festival; Best Documentary Feature Award, San Diego Asian Film Festival.
—Jill Goldsmith, Deadline, 12 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for Asian
Cite this Entry
“Asian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Asian. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.
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