: of, relating to, or characteristic of South Asia (a region of indefinite boundaries usually thought of as including all or some of the following countries: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Maldives) or its people
plural South Asians
1
: a native or inhabitant of South Asia
2
: a person of South Asian descent
Examples of South Asian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
There’s a movie version set in London’s South Asian community starring Riz Ahmed.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
The Antiquities Trafficking Unit has been investigating Kapoor and his associates’ looting, exportation, and sale of Southeast and South Asian artifacts for over a decade.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 6 May 2026
The first military contingents of the larger, more heavily armed force with personnel drawn from several African and South Asian countries, along with Guatemala and El Salvador, are expected to arrive in Haiti in the next few days.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The South Asian country is home to a number of shark species.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Honorable Gays is produced by France’s production banner, French Tuck Media, which focuses on scaling premium unscripted and documentary storytelling to amplify underrepresented voices and reflect the nuance and humor of South Asian and LGBTQ+ communities.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026
Around 4 million barrels of Iranian oil have arrived in India, marking the first such imports in seven years as the South Asian nation races to secure volumes before a grace period granted by Washington expires at the weekend.
—Weilun Soon, Bloomberg, 15 Apr. 2026
Going back to our Indian restaurant example, the gaudy decor may be the difference between people turning up for the food regardless, and the latest hot spot for South Asian cuisine.
—Simin Cai, Forbes.com, 20 Mar. 2026
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Adjective
Today, the two South Asian neighbors remain on high alert amid tit-for-tat threats and reports that both sides are preparing for more war.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
There’s a movie version set in London’s South Asian community starring Riz Ahmed.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
The Antiquities Trafficking Unit has been investigating Kapoor and his associates’ looting, exportation, and sale of Southeast and South Asian artifacts for over a decade.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 6 May 2026
The first military contingents of the larger, more heavily armed force with personnel drawn from several African and South Asian countries, along with Guatemala and El Salvador, are expected to arrive in Haiti in the next few days.
—Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026
The South Asian country is home to a number of shark species.
—Adam England, PEOPLE, 29 Apr. 2026
Honorable Gays is produced by France’s production banner, French Tuck Media, which focuses on scaling premium unscripted and documentary storytelling to amplify underrepresented voices and reflect the nuance and humor of South Asian and LGBTQ+ communities.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2026
Around 4 million barrels of Iranian oil have arrived in India, marking the first such imports in seven years as the South Asian nation races to secure volumes before a grace period granted by Washington expires at the weekend.
—Weilun Soon, Bloomberg, 15 Apr. 2026
Going back to our Indian restaurant example, the gaudy decor may be the difference between people turning up for the food regardless, and the latest hot spot for South Asian cuisine.
—Simin Cai, Forbes.com, 20 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“South Asian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/South%20Asian. Accessed 16 May. 2026.
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