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

His influences range from Renaissance art and Rothko to manga and futurist architecture, filtered through the countercultural attitude of punk and early indie comics. —Rob Salkowitz, Forbes.com, 18 June 2025

The manga, first published in 1999 and revisited in a 2021 edition, forecasts a catastrophic event striking Japan this summer. —Joe Edwards john Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 June 2025

Fans of the manga know that the mystery man is Smoker, a Marine captain who serves as a major antagonist. —Randall Colburn, EW.com, 30 May 2025

Kinokuniya is a bookworm’s dream with art tomes, manga, niche magazines, and all sorts of other genres, not to mention an extremely satisfying array of pens, journals, and art supplies for sale. —Mae Hamilton, AFAR Media, 1 May 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