sensei

noun

sen·​sei ˈsen-ˌsā How to pronounce sensei (audio)
plural sensei or senseis
: a teacher or instructor usually of Japanese martial arts (such as karate or judo)

Examples of sensei in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hannah-Kim joined the show in season 6, playing Kim Da-Eun, a sensei from South Korea who teams up with Kreese to take down a rival studio, which happens to be owned by Kreese's former student Johnny Lawrence, played by William Zabka, and his former rival, Daniel LaRusso, played by Ralph Macchio. Stephanie Giang-Paunon, FOXNews.com, 26 June 2025 Kim, 37, played Kim Da-Eun, the formidable South Korean sensei, who joined the cast in the fifth and sixth seasons. Clayton Davis, Variety, 23 June 2025 Hannah-Kim joined the show in Season 6, playing Kim Da-Eun, a sensei from South Korea who teams up with Kreese to take down a rival studio, which happens to be owned by Kreese's former student Johnny Lawrence, played by William Zabka, and his former rival, Daniel LaRusso, played by Ralph Macchio. Lori A Bashian, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2025 Kove played John Kreese, the temperamental sensei in the original three Karate Kid films, reprising the role in Netflix’s Cobra Kai alongside Ralph Macchio and William Zabka across the show’s six seasons. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for sensei

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, teacher, master

First Known Use

1874, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sensei was in 1874

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Cite this Entry

“Sensei.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sensei. Accessed 9 Jul. 2025.

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