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

One Piece is Netflix’s live-action adaptation of Japan’s highest-selling manga series by Eiichiro Oda. —Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 25 Nov. 2025

As previously announced, the streamer renewed the live-action adaptation of the beloved manga and anime series for a third season ahead of the Season 2 premiere, which is slated for March 10, 2026. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 24 Nov. 2025

The clip gives fans an early glimpse at Coco, who first appeared in Kamome Shirahama’s manga series of the same name, which debuted back in 2016. —Brenton Blanchet, PEOPLE, 20 Nov. 2025

The actual source material is the novel, and then there also is a manga, but, in the original, the characters have special powers. —Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 16 Nov. 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