: of, relating to, or characteristic of the continent of Asia or its people
Asian vs. Asiatic: Usage Guide
Asian is now solidly preferred to Asiatic; the latter persists mainly in the names of some kinds of flora and fauna.
an Asiatic lily
the Asiatic elephant
Asiatic still has some use as a geographical designator
the Asiatic side of the Bosporus
but has increasingly been considered offensive, especially as associated with the policies of colonialism.
1
: a native or inhabitant of Asia
2
: a person of Asian descent
Examples of Asian in a Sentence
Noun
There are many Asians living in South America.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Going forward, Pai argued that examples of successful Southeast Asian founders will encourage more to take the plunge and start their own company.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2025
Fred He, CNN Money, 18 Nov. 2025
Because the feeling of Asian-ness, if it can be quantified as such, had always meant—for me—abundance, exuberance, and presence.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Asian
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Adjective
The typical gestation period for an Asian elephant is 18 to 22 months, putting the elephant's due date sometime between mid-January and early March.
—Kelli Bender, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Going forward, Pai argued that examples of successful Southeast Asian founders will encourage more to take the plunge and start their own company.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 24 Nov. 2025
Noun
That night, Hong Kong defeated India 1-0 in the Asian Cup qualifiers – a series of matches deciding which teams go to the continent’s showpiece event in Saudi Arabia in 2027.
—Fred He, CNN Money, 18 Nov. 2025
Because the feeling of Asian-ness, if it can be quantified as such, had always meant—for me—abundance, exuberance, and presence.
—Literary Hub, 17 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Asian
Cite this Entry
“Asian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Asian. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.
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