Korean

noun

Ko·​re·​an kə-ˈrē-ən How to pronounce Korean (audio)
especially Southern (ˌ)kō-
1
: a native or inhabitant of Korea
2
: the language of the Korean people
Korean adjective

Examples of Korean 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.
But its origins can be traced to an American cookbook dating back to when African American soldiers fought in the Korean War. David Morgan, CBS News, 20 Nov. 2025 Corey Lee’s innovative vision redefined the concept of ‘Asian’ food, moving beyond a broad category to celebrate and respect the distinctiveness of specific regional cuisines, in this case, Korean. Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 19 Nov. 2025 Newsweek reached out by email to the North Korean Embassy in Beijing for comment. Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Nov. 2025 Some items from the Washington, DC exhibition will also be displayed in Chicago and London next year amid growing global fascination with all things Korean, from K-beauty to K-pop. Christy Choi, CNN Money, 17 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Korean

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Korean was in 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Korean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Korean. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

Korean

noun
Ko·​re·​an kə-ˈrē-ən How to pronounce Korean (audio)
1
: a person born or living in Korea
2
: the language of the Korean people
Korean adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on Korean

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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