: 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
Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 15 May 2026
Shares in Europe are tracking Asian markets' overnight declines after South Korea's benchmark Kospi index slid more than 6% on Friday, retreating from a fresh record high above 8,000, as broader Asia-Pacific markets fell.
—Hugh Leask,joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 15 May 2026
Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 16 May 2026
To meet their growth targets, banks hired increasing numbers of women, African Americans, Asian Americans, and white ethnics, all of whom had been excluded from or simply wary about pursuing careers in finance.
—Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for Asian
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Adjective
Dumpling Time will help fill an Asian-food opportunity left after Bao Boi, now a local food truck, exited The Warehouse in 2024.
—Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 15 May 2026
Shares in Europe are tracking Asian markets' overnight declines after South Korea's benchmark Kospi index slid more than 6% on Friday, retreating from a fresh record high above 8,000, as broader Asia-Pacific markets fell.
—Hugh Leask,joseph Wilkins, CNBC, 15 May 2026
Noun
The fifth annual event was created in 2022 by the Sacramento Asian Pacific Chamber of Commerce as a reimagining of its annual gala.
—Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 16 May 2026
To meet their growth targets, banks hired increasing numbers of women, African Americans, Asian Americans, and white ethnics, all of whom had been excluded from or simply wary about pursuing careers in finance.
—Literary Hub, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for Asian
Cite this Entry
“Asian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Asian. Accessed 19 May. 2026.
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