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

Saving the finale for spring, the samurai epic proved auteurs could be series unto themselves. —Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 25 Nov. 2025

In Last Samurai Standing, 292 former samurai compete in the deadly tournament Kodoku to try to win 100 billion yen. —Caroline Blair, PEOPLE, 17 Nov. 2025

Set in 1878 Japan, Last Samurai Standing takes place in the post-feudal period when the few remaining samurai have become personas non grata, with a rapidly modernizing Japanese society shunning the once great warriors, and outlawing their swords. —Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 16 Nov. 2025

The government has abolished the samurai class, banning swords and forcing most of them into poverty. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025

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