Asian American

noun

variants or less commonly Asian-American

ˈā-zhən-ə-ˈmer-ə-kən 

plural Asian Americans also Asian-Americans

: an American of Asian descent

Asian American adjective

or less commonly Asian-American

Examples of Asian American in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Harris was the first Black woman and first Asian American to become a major party’s nominee for president. — USA Today, 21 July 2026

Authentic representation and cultural reclamation were key topics at The Asian American Foundation’s 2026 Heritage Month Summit. — Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

This production, by the National Asian American Theatre Company, navigates the antagonisms and the alliances with precision and economy; it is led by Jon Norman Schneider’s quietly stirring Henry and Teresa Avia Lim’s wily Queen Margaret. — Marina Harss, New Yorker, 10 July 2026

The initiative, known as CEEC, will be supported by The Asian American Foundation (TAAF) and the Robert & Lien Chen Family Foundation. — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 26 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Asian American

noun

variants also Asian-American

: an American who has Asian ancestors

Asian American adjective

also Asian-American