yakuza

noun

ya·​ku·​za ˈyä-ku̇-ˌzä 

plural yakuza

1

: a Japanese gangster

2

: an organized crime syndicate in Japan

Examples of yakuza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But when one of his subscribers (Mizuhara) lures him to Japan to sell the rare jeans, he gets tangled in a love triangle and runs afoul of the yakuza. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026

The team comes up with scenarios in which Emi fights a mech or battles yakuza in the clouds, and the fights defy expectations. — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

Also on the way is a remake of yakuza film A Colt Is My Passport from Amazon MGM’s Orion Pictures, which has wrapped production. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026

The 71-year-old filmmaker reflects on his influence, his early yakuza movies and why young directors should embrace constraints before chasing Cannes. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, ruffian, gangster

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined at sense 1