manga

noun man·ga \ ˈmäŋ-gə \

Updated on: 1 Apr 2018

Definition of manga

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

Recent Examples of manga from the Web

The ball-playing robot — inspired by a manga character — squats, aims, and springs upward to release the ball, just like a flesh-and-blood player.

— amanda campanaro /, NBC News, "This basketball-playing robot is so good it could outshoot Stephen Curry," 20 Mar. 2018
But Miike, adapting a manga by Hiroaki Samura, has something else in store for Manji: a creepy old woman shows up and bestows upon him the gift of immortality, inserting magical bloodworms under his skin that will keep him alive forever.

— ben sachs, Chicago Reader, "Film / Foreign / On Video You probably missed Blade of the Immortal when it played here, but now you can catch it on DVD and BluRay," 9 Mar. 2018
With an appearance inspired by technology, J-pop music, and manga, the Aygo, at the very least, looked interesting in an unexciting segment.

— tony markovich, Car and Driver, "Better X: Toyota Refreshes Its Aygo City Car," 23 Feb. 2018
With two dizzyingly well-stocked and ordered rooms of Korean graphic novels, comic books and manga, Western Comics is a specialty shop that rents books rather than selling them.

— agatha french, latimes.com, "The bookstores of Koreatown," 15 Feb. 2018
On every street corner is a 7-Eleven or similar convenience store where young people can buy everything from stationery to ready meals (and heat and eat them on the spot), flick through manga comics, and buy tickets to baseball matches.

— The Economist, "Seventh heaven at 7-ElevenYoung Japanese are surprisingly content," 15 Feb. 2018
And for true insider access, Japan Curator has an impressive Rolodex with the country’s elite, facilitating everything from brown bear safaris in Hokkaido to private dinners with the cast of a live-action manga movie.

— Time, "4 Places to Visit in Japan Before Everyone Else Does," 17 Jan. 2018
When Scarlett Johansson was cast as the lead character of the popular Japanese manga reboot, many fans were outraged by the decision.

— yohana desta, HWD, "Ghost in the Shell," 5 Apr. 2017
The Tanis, who are in their early 60s, were first introduced to the concept of cosplay by their daughter, Ann, who would cosplay as her favorite anime and manga characters in high school.

— taylor weik /, NBC News, "Meet the 'Cosplay Parents' devoting retirement to costumes and conventions," 13 Dec. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'manga.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.