Southeast Asian

1 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Southeast Asia (a region of indefinite boundaries usually thought of as including Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam and sometimes Singapore, Indonesia, and/or the Philippines) or its people

Southeast Asian

2 of 2

noun

plural Southeast Asians

1

: a native or inhabitant of Southeast Asia

2

: a person of Southeast Asian descent

Examples of Southeast Asian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Italy agreed in March to give the carrier to Indonesia in a move aimed at boosting Italy’s broader defense engagement with the Southeast Asian country. — ABC News, 24 Sep. 2026

Vietnam also stands out from other Southeast Asian markets Tesla has targeted. — Jenny Lee, CNBC, 22 Sep. 2026

But in 1963, President Liu Shaoqi traveled to Indonesia and other Southeast Asian countries with his wife, Wang Guangmei, marking the first overseas trip by a Chinese leader accompanied by his wife. — Rena Rowe, The Washington Examiner, 19 Sep. 2026

Tran has spent three decades working across Southeast Asian cinema, with producing credits including Big Father, Small Father and Other Stories, The Third Wife and Glorious Ashes. — Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1898, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1943, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Southeast Asian

• athanasian
• abrasion
• caucasian
• equation
• eurasian
• evasion
• invasion
• occasion
• persuasion
• suasion