: of, relating to, or characteristic of the continent of Asia or its people
Asian vs. Asiatic: Usage Guide
Asian is now solidly preferred to Asiatic; the latter persists mainly in the names of some kinds of flora and fauna.
an Asiatic lily
the Asiatic elephant
Asiatic still has some use as a geographical designator
the Asiatic side of the Bosporus
but has increasingly been considered offensive, especially as associated with the policies of colonialism.
1
: a native or inhabitant of Asia
2
: a person of Asian descent
Examples of Asian in a Sentence
Noun
There are many Asians living in South America.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
In Georgia, the Savannah Morning News told readers how to identify invasive Asian needle ants, while in South Florida, scientists say Burmese pythons could eradicate the endangered Key Largo woodrats if left unchecked.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Andrew McNicol, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
Qatar lost all of their games in 2022 but redeemed themselves a year later by retaining the Asian Cup with a 3-1 victory over Jordan.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for Asian
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Adjective
Which Asian and European Craft Markets Are Must-Sees for Travelers?
—Hanna Wickes, Miami Herald, 29 May 2026
In Georgia, the Savannah Morning News told readers how to identify invasive Asian needle ants, while in South Florida, scientists say Burmese pythons could eradicate the endangered Key Largo woodrats if left unchecked.
—Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Noun
At a celebratory exhibition match last week in the capital, under the watchful eye of the supreme leader, Naegohyang faced off against the under-17s team, who just added an Asian Cup to their impressive array of silverware, trouncing Japan 5-1 in the final.
—Andrew McNicol, CNN Money, 7 June 2026
Qatar lost all of their games in 2022 but redeemed themselves a year later by retaining the Asian Cup with a 3-1 victory over Jordan.
—Jay Harris, New York Times, 2 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for Asian
Cite this Entry
“Asian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Asian. Accessed 7 Jun. 2026.
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