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

The world of anime has seen all kinds of heroes step up to battle evil, but Rooster Fighter, based on a web manga by Shū Sakuratani, brings some hot chicken to the plate. —K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026

Less like a museum and more like an immersion in the whimsical world of anime director Hayao Miyazaki, the Ghibli Museum in the suburbs of Mitaka will be the first stop for fans of manga and anime. —Jessica Kozuka, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2026

This is particularly true of season two, which not only ups the violence and adds original plot lines but also pulls from across the manga’s nearly 30 years of publication to bring characters and events into the storymuch earlier. —Rafael Motamayor, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2026

Novels, manga, music, and fanfiction are referenced throughout the memoir as touchstones in Kobabe’s search for understanding and community. —Literary Hub, 12 Mar. 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