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 layout resembled a samurai sword, where the hardest material is concentrated mainly along the cutting edge. —Jacek Krywko, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026

Visitors who walk into the museum are greeted with objects ranging from taxidermy animals to a Japanese samurai suit. —Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026

In the final years of the Japanese shogunate, the Shinsengumi were the samurai police force tasked with keeping order in Kyoto. —K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 29 Apr. 2026

Lind — despite being stabbed in the eye and impaled with a samurai sword — managed to survive the attack. —Tessa Stuart, Rolling Stone, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for samurai

• abscissae
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi
• certify

Kids Definition

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