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

Viz Media, which has held the English-language North American manga license since 2021, began releasing simultaneous English chapters alongside the Japanese publication in May 2023. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Apr. 2026

Shirahama’s detailed etching and line work make the manga feel like an old picture book come to life, and her paneling and layouts are astonishingly detailed and gorgeous. —Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 3 Apr. 2026

The popular manga anime series follows the adventures of a Japanese magical girl who transforms into a guardian of love and justice and protector of Earth as the leader of the Sailor Guardians. —Brady MacDonald, Oc Register, 3 Apr. 2026

There was a slew of manga and a bunch of books that looked like actual fun. —Jeremy O. Harris, Vanity Fair, 1 Apr. 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