manga

noun

man·​ga ˈmäŋ-gə 

plural manga also mangas

: Japanese comic books and graphic novels considered collectively as a genre

The characters' faces beam the big-eyed, manically jolly winsomeness that in anime and manga signals contentment.

—Peter Schjeldahl

also : an individual comic book or graphic novel of the manga genre

This black-and-white manga is based on the Japanese animated TV series of the same name …

—Library Journal

Examples of manga in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sheep in the Box is is set in the near future in which a couple adopts a state-of-the-art humanoid as their son, while Look Back is adapted from Tatsuki Fujimoto’s eponymous bestselling manga about two girls pursuing their dreams of becoming manga artists. —Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 1 Jan. 2026

But its premise also feels like an odd duck in 2026 — society’s view of parasocial relationships has evolved a lot in the 30 years since the manga was first published. —Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 1 Jan. 2026

Pick up your copy of the manga at the front desk. —Ramona Sentinel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Dec. 2025

This week, the 29th volume of the sci-fi manga WORLD TRIGGER launches atop the tally. —Billboard Japan, Billboard, 15 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, comic, cartoon, from man- involuntary, aimless + -ga picture

First Known Use

circa 1951, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for manga

• ganga
• pampanga

Kids Definition

manga

noun

man·​ga ˈmäŋ-gə 

: a Japanese comic book or graphic novel