: 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
Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Plus, due to the high population density, Asian megacities generate enormous demand for intercity travel, making high-speed projects more economically viable.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
Some Asian Americans called for new laws and more policing, unaware or willing to set aside the fact that Black Americans face higher rates of police violence and systemic discrimination.
—Beth Lew-Williams, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Asian
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Adjective
In New York, Diwali on the Hudson began as a two-hundred-person experiment and has grown into a four-hundred-and-fifty-person tradition that spotlights rising South Asian artists and funds programs.
—Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Plus, due to the high population density, Asian megacities generate enormous demand for intercity travel, making high-speed projects more economically viable.
—Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
The cuts targeted grants for institutions serving Alaska and Hawaiian natives, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, and Hispanic and Black students.
—Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 15 Sep. 2025
Some Asian Americans called for new laws and more policing, unaware or willing to set aside the fact that Black Americans face higher rates of police violence and systemic discrimination.
—Beth Lew-Williams, New Yorker, 13 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Asian
Cite this Entry
“Asian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Asian. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
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