Wagyu

noun

Wa·​gyu ˈwä-(ˌ)gyü 

variants or less commonly wagyu

plural Wagyu also wagyu

1

: any of four strains of a breed of black or red Japanese cattle valued for their highly marbled meat

In the U.S., Japanese Wagyu cows have been crossbred with those of other breeds to produce unsurpassably tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef.

—Saveur

Note: Wagyu were developed in Japan in the late 1800s to 1910 by crossbreeding native cattle with European breeds.

2

or Wagyu beef or less commonly wagyu beef : beef from Wagyu cattle

The surface of my Wagyu was intricately laced with delicate veins of off-white fat—by laboratory measurement, three times more marbling fat than U.S. prime-grade beef, though with slightly less cholesterol.

—Jeffrey Steingarten

Wagyu beef is tender and flavorful because of its intramuscular fat, or marbling.

—Sam Gugino

compare kobe beef

Examples of Wagyu in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Notable dishes include Wagyu dumplings, papaya salad, adobo pork ribs, miso cod, chicken karaage and filet mignon. —Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 28 May 2025

In recent years, lunch was also available at the uptown Charlotte location for relatively quick service of an M&S Uptown Smash Burger or Wagyu Steak Frites. —Heidi Finley, Charlotte Observer, 28 May 2025

The menu at Element 47 at the Little Nell Hotel at the base of Aspen Mountain offers a sophisticated take on American classics such as a Wagyu burger with pineapple. —Mindy Sink, Denver Post, 21 May 2025

The gastropub-style menu features elevated hot dog dishes, a Snake River Farms Wagyu beef burger, chili nachos and a large beer menu. Oeste Bar: Located in the hotel’s atrium, Oeste is a bar specializing in cocktails that celebrate Mexican flavors and heritage and a large selection of tequilas. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Japanese wagyū, from wa "Japan, Japanese" + gyū "cattle, cow"

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 1