quasi

1 of 2

adjective

qua·​si ˈkwā-ˌzī How to pronounce quasi (audio)
-ˌsī;
ˈkwä-zē How to pronounce quasi (audio)
-sē
1
: having some resemblance usually by possession of certain attributes
a quasi corporation
2
: having a legal status only by operation or construction of law and without reference to intent
a quasi contract

quasi-

2 of 2

combining form

1
: in some sense or degree
quasiperiodic
quasi-judicial
2
: resembling in some degree
quasiparticle

Example Sentences

Adjective And as more people adopt these teachings as quasi religions, some adherents say their belief systems are no less valid than those based on that older collection of maxims, the Ten Commandments. Daniel McGinn, Newsweek, 10 Jan. 2000
But also, bachelors, more than married people, blended the two spheres by making their public, non-familial peer group and other associations into quasi families and by carrying on their personal affairs in mostly public or semipublic places such as boardinghouses, saloons, the streets, clubhouses, and the like. Howard P. Chudacoff, The Age of the Bachelor, 1999
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Trump’s backers hope to neutralize his vulnerabilities on Covid — his support for quasi-lockdown measures, deference to the public-health bureaucracy, and early obsequiousness toward ... Noah Rothman, National Review, 3 Mar. 2023 But the biggest challenge is still simply trying to get people to pay attention and to ultimately understand their rights amid a very complicated legal and quasi-legal systems. Megan Leonhardt, Fortune, 3 Mar. 2023 Vulnerable Americans have long been sold a steady stream of quasi-medical services that include cancer-killing magnets, leechings, all-purpose lasers, homeopathic treatments for syphilis, polio-destroying prayers, and herbal remedies for measles. Matthew Hongoltz-hetling, The New Republic, 28 Feb. 2023 Brosnahan hits all the right notes as Iris, a would-be actress whose quasi-mystical Appalachian upbringing constitutes an important part of the Brustein marriage’s erotics. Jesse Green, New York Times, 27 Feb. 2023 Nearly all colonies—some 98 percent—could become quasi-extinct by the end of the century, per a 2021 study. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 24 Feb. 2023 Screenwriter Jimmy Warden sets up the various bloodbaths on cue, with the bear assuming quasi-magical properties of speed, agility, cunning and limb-strewing. Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2023 In 2005, that sense of connection informed his approach to co-founding Reddit, a social network composed of quasi-anonymous users joining special-interest communities called subreddits. Michael Del Castillo, Forbes, 21 Feb. 2023 And the proliferation of quasi-scientific terms for jerks, assholes, and even killers has far-reaching consequences. WIRED, 21 Feb. 2023 See More

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

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

quasi-

Combining form

Latin quasi as if, as it were, approximately, from quam as + si if — more at quantity, so

First Known Use

Adjective

1632, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of quasi was in 1632

Dictionary Entries Near quasi

Cite this Entry

“Quasi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/quasi. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

Kids Definition

quasi-

combining form
qua·​si-
ˈkwā-ˌzī,
-ˌsī;
ˈkwäz-ē,
ˈkwäs-
: in some sense or degree
quasi-historical
quasi-officially
Etymology

Combining form

from Latin quasi "as if"

Legal Definition

quasi

1 of 2 adjective
: having such a resemblance to another thing as to fall within its general category
a quasi corporation

quasi

2 of 2 adverb
: in some significant sense or degree
often used in combination
quasi-fiscal
see also quasi-judicial, quasi-legislative
Etymology

Adjective

Latin, as if, as it were, from quam as + si if

More from Merriam-Webster on quasi

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!


Love It or Hate It

  • heart-fire
  • When asked about her blind date, Carol spoke for hours with vitriol.
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can with using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.

Can you make 12 words with 7 letters?

PLAY