: 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
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
Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Classes planned for July include preserving and pickling foods by water bath canning, using and storing herbs, beekeeping and cold brew iced teas with Southeast Asian flavors from Mahal Tea Company.
—Annie Alleman, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
After news of the men’s disappearance spread, an A-Team of internationally renowned cave divers coalesced in the landlocked Southeast Asian country, brought together by the Lao People’s Volunteer Association, according to its president, Bounkham Luanglath.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
The Southeast Asian nation is a one-party communist state with no organized opposition and the government keeps a tight lid on information.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
There’s a 19th-century public market packed with Pennsylvania Dutch classics, and, on weekends in warmer months, an open-air Southeast Asian market in the middle of a sprawling city park.
—Regan Stephens, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026
The rooms There are 104 rooms and suites that blend Western comfort with a modern Southeast Asian design sensibility.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 May 2026
Hishow has been fielding sustained interest from Southeast Asian buyers off the back of that performance.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 May 2026
Sony Pictures Classics picked up all rights in North and Latin America, as well as for India and Southeast Asian TV, to the feature out of Cannes.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
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Adjective
The 41-room property sits near Kampong Glam and Little India, which suits its mix of Parisian salon mood and Southeast Asian flourish.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Classes planned for July include preserving and pickling foods by water bath canning, using and storing herbs, beekeeping and cold brew iced teas with Southeast Asian flavors from Mahal Tea Company.
—Annie Alleman, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
After news of the men’s disappearance spread, an A-Team of internationally renowned cave divers coalesced in the landlocked Southeast Asian country, brought together by the Lao People’s Volunteer Association, according to its president, Bounkham Luanglath.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
The Southeast Asian nation is a one-party communist state with no organized opposition and the government keeps a tight lid on information.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
There’s a 19th-century public market packed with Pennsylvania Dutch classics, and, on weekends in warmer months, an open-air Southeast Asian market in the middle of a sprawling city park.
—Regan Stephens, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026
The rooms There are 104 rooms and suites that blend Western comfort with a modern Southeast Asian design sensibility.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 May 2026
Hishow has been fielding sustained interest from Southeast Asian buyers off the back of that performance.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 22 May 2026
Sony Pictures Classics picked up all rights in North and Latin America, as well as for India and Southeast Asian TV, to the feature out of Cannes.
—Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 22 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Southeast Asian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Southeast%20Asian. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.
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