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

The sequel to the popular manga TV series has also grossed $108 million worldwide, setting it up for a theatrical run that could rival the recent installment in the long-running multimedia Demon Slayer franchise. —Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 27 Oct. 2025

There’s yet another action anime blockbuster based on TV series based on a manga poised to tear up the American box office this weekend. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025

The anime’s first season, consisting of 12 episodes, is adapted from the first 38 chapters of Tatsuki Fujimoto's manga series of the same name, published in Japanese magazine Weekly Shōnen Jump starting in December 2018. —Jack Smart, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025

In some respects, adapting this of all the manga’s storylines for the big screen is an odd choice. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 22 Oct. 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