yakuza

noun ya·ku·za \ ˈyä-ku̇-ˌzä \

Updated on: 20 May 2018

Definition of yakuza

plural yakuza

1 : a Japanese gangster

2 : an organized crime syndicate in Japan

Recent Examples of yakuza from the Web

Tattoos, associated with yakuza, or organized crime, are generally not permitted.

— hanya yanagihara, Town & Country, "The Transporting Daily Ritual of the Japanese Evening Bath," 8 Dec. 2017
Despite his outsider status, the taciturn Nick quickly fits in well with the yakuza and their highly formal, albeit deadly, customs.

— frank scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Outsider': Film Review," 8 Mar. 2018
Ishii’s tactic, in these situations, is to apply a temporary tattoo to his neck and dress like a yakuza.

— kathryn schulz, The New Yorker, "Japan’s Rent-a-Family Industry," 23 Apr. 2018
Five of his early yakuza films are presented in this deluxe boxed set, along with a 60-page illustrated collector's book.

— chris ball, cleveland.com, "Steven Spielberg's 'The Post,' now on DVD and Blu-ray (review)," 22 Apr. 2018
Nick is so readily accepted into the yakuza's ranks that there's little dramatic tension.

— frank scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Outsider': Film Review," 8 Mar. 2018
FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME PRINT COMMENTS Director Takashi Miike reprises the breathless craziness of his 2013 cops-and-yakuza hit in a sequel with even more action, again starring the irrepressible Toma Ikuta.

— deborah young, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Mole Song — Hong Kong Capriccio': Film Review | Shanghai 2017," 30 June 2017
By Min Jin Lee (Grand Central Publishing) Sunja is a teenager from a poor family in pre-World War II Korea who is seduced by a Japanese yakuza and becomes pregnant.

— The Denver Post, "Summer 2017 reads: Books worthy of your time and worth an escape," 5 June 2017
The firm’s leader promises to help clear his name and help his mentor win a power struggle within his Tokyo yakuza clan.

— gieson cacho, The Mercury News, "Review: ‘Yakuza 0’ makes a fresh start from the beginning," 1 Feb. 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of yakuza

Japanese, ruffian, gangster

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1964

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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