Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

askari

noun
as·​ka·​ri | \ ˈaskərē; əˈskärē, aˈs-\
plural askaris or askari

Definition of askari

1 : a native soldier especially of eastern Africa in the service of a European power
2 : a native police officer or guard of eastern Africa

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

First Known Use of askari

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for askari

Arabic ʽaskarī

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about askari

Statistics for askari

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for askari

The first known use of askari was in 1835

See more words from the same year

Comments on askari

What made you want to look up askari? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

imbroglio

a complex dispute or argument

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Homophone Quiz

  • three-bears-two-of-them-look-like-theyre-whispering-to-a-third-bear-who-looks-chuffed-to-be-the-center-of-attention
  • In order to judge how people felt, the senator's office hired a firm to take a ______.
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Citation

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games