Birman

1 of 3

noun (1)

Bir·​man ˈbər-mən How to pronounce Birman (audio)
: a long-haired domestic cat of a breed originating in Burma (Myanmar) and resembling the Siamese in eye color and coat pattern but much stockier in build with paws symmetrically marked with white

Burman

2 of 3

noun (2)

Bur·​man
-mən
variants or less commonly Birman
How to pronounce Burman (audio)
plural -s
: burmese
specifically : a member of the Mongolian ethnic group in Burma

Burman

3 of 3

adjective

variants or less commonly Birman
"
: of or relating to Burma or the Burmans : burmese

Examples of Birman in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Noun
Alexandre Birman offers the Clarita in a variety of colors and styles, and a metallic silver pair currently retails for $725. Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 9 June 2026 Did Karl Lagerfeld really leave millions to his blue-cream Birman, Choupette? David A. Graham, The Atlantic, 18 May 2026 This is Socrate, a friendly Sacred Birman, a hotel resident and informal mascot. Arden Fanning Andrews, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2026 Choupette’s life of luxury German fashion designer, photographer and creative director Karl Lagerfeld, who died in 2019 at 85, was someone who made the mistake of leaving money directly to his fluffy Birman cat, Choupette. Allison Anna Tait, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2025 What breed of dogs and cats shed the most? For cats, pet food company Purina said the Persian, Birman, Himalayan and Turkish Angora cats shed the most out of all breeds. Krystal Nurse, USA Today, 22 Oct. 2025 More than 50 cats were submitted for The Star’s cutest cat contest, from tortoiseshells to Birman cats and everything in between — and your submissions have definitely stolen the hearts of the cat lovers in our newsroom. Eden Dinneen, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2025 Based on the novel by Nobel Prize-winning Egyptian author Naguib Mahfouz, with a screenplay by Vicente Leñero, the film was produced by the legendary Alfredo Ripstein, whose Alameda Films is now run by his grandson, Daniel Birman Ripstein. Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 12 Sep. 2025 Those breeds include Persian, Manx, British and American shorthaired, exotic shorthaired, Ragamuffin, Birman, Sphynx, Maine Coons and Norweigan Forest cats. Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

variant of Burman

Noun (2)

Burma (formerly also Birma) + English -an

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1973, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Birman was in 1973

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Cite this Entry

“Birman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Birman. Accessed 18 Jun. 2026.

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