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

Directed by Kei Oikawa and based on the manga series by Nagano, the fantasy adventure follows Chiikawa and companions traveling to an island paradise before uncovering an ominous threat. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 21 Sep. 2026

Along with sizable paintings from iconic American artists such as Norman Rockwell and Frida Kahlo, the museum features galleries with comic books, manga, and other illustrations that have historically been viewed only between paper pages. — Nava Rawls, Condé Nast Traveler, 21 Sep. 2026

The movie — heavily influenced by the award-winning director’s relationship with anime and manga — follows two students whose love-at-first-sight connection is cut abruptly short when one of them dies. — Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 18 Sep. 2026

The story beats are familiar, in part, because Yamamoto’s manga introduced many of them to the form. — Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 11 Sep. 2026

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