samurai

noun

sam·​u·​rai ˈsa-mə-ˌrī 

ˈsam-yə-

plural samurai

1

: a military retainer of a Japanese daimyo practicing the code of conduct of Bushido

2

: the warrior aristocracy of Japan

Examples of samurai in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Notably, The Samurai and the Prisoner marks the 70-year-old Kurosawa’s first attempt at a sweeping samurai period feature — a potential late-career culmination for a director whose work has spanned more than 50 films and nearly every other major genre. —Patrick Brzeski, HollywoodReporter, 14 Apr. 2026

Highlights include K-pop dance crews, Chinese lion dances, and Japanese sword/kendo and samurai demonstrations. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Apr. 2026

For entertainment, check out the samurai displays and calligraphy. —Aviva Bechky, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026

Once visited by emperors seeking clarity and samurai tending to battle wounds, these onsen remain cornerstones of Japanese culture. —Kelsey Eisen, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for samurai

• abscissae
• alibi
• alkali
• alumni
• amoebae
• amplify
• annuli
• beautify
• brachii
• butterfly
• calculi
• certify

Kids Definition

samurai

noun

sam·​u·​rai ˈsam-(y)ə-ˌrī 

plural samurai

: a warrior serving a Japanese feudal lord and practicing a code of conduct which valued honor over life