katakana
noun
ka·ta·ka·na
ˌkä-tə-ˈkä-nə 
: the form of Japanese syllabic writing used especially for scientific terms, official documents, and words adopted from other languages compare hiragana
Examples of katakana in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Mē-mē Bēkari, says the katakana script above, which means the creature must be a sheep.
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Frances Leech, Longreads, 3 May 2018
Frances Leech, Longreads, 3 May 2018
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'katakana.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Japanese, from kata part + kana kana
First Known Use
1727, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near katakana
Cite this Entry
“Katakana.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/katakana. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about katakana
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