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

The sit-down was so named for the Japanese charcoal grill used in many courses, which included Japanese A5 Wagyu steak, edible floral arrangements of microgreens and crackling chicken-skin cones filled with foie gras and cloudberry jam. —Phillip Valys, Sun Sentinel, 6 Aug. 2025

The Rancher's Club on campus offers an exquisite steakhouse experience, with additional dishes like Braised Wagyu Short Ribs and a long wine list. —Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 31 July 2025

People love the Wagyu strip steak, but dishes like Macadamia Nut Prawns or Ahi Coconut Ceviche capitalize a bit more on Island authenticity. —Barbara Schuler, Travel + Leisure, 30 July 2025

Although the restaurant specializes in premium cuts of meat including Wagyu ribeye, Cowboy ribeye and the Instagram-worthy Flaming Tomahawk, its seafood and gourmet-quality sides have garnered rave reviews. —Martie Bowser, Forbes.com, 28 July 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