samurai
noun
sam·u·rai
ˈsa-mə-ˌrī 
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
The 1962 film stars Nakadai as a lone samurai asking a local lord for permission to commit harakiri, a form of ritual suicide.
—
NPR, 12 Nov. 2025
That nine-month revolt affirmed the status of the rising new imperial government of Japan and stripped the samurai class of rank and privilege, in favor of a modernized approach to the military and security throughout the land.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025
The boy, Naoki, had a treasured toy, a samurai doll dressed in beautiful silk.
—Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025
London’s institutions are courting new crowds with silent discos, samurai suppers and lion-side glamping — all part of a creative reinvention.
—Sarah Hutter, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for samurai
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NPR, 12 Nov. 2025
That nine-month revolt affirmed the status of the rising new imperial government of Japan and stripped the samurai class of rank and privilege, in favor of a modernized approach to the military and security throughout the land.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 12 Nov. 2025
The boy, Naoki, had a treasured toy, a samurai doll dressed in beautiful silk.
—Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2025
London’s institutions are courting new crowds with silent discos, samurai suppers and lion-side glamping — all part of a creative reinvention.
—Sarah Hutter, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for samurai
Cite this Entry
“Samurai.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/samurai. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.
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samurai
noun
sam·u·rai
ˈsam-(y)ə-ˌrī
plural samurai
: a warrior serving a Japanese feudal lord and practicing a code of conduct which valued honor over life
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