yakuza

noun

ya·​ku·​za ˈyä-ku̇-ˌzä 

plural yakuza

1

: a Japanese gangster

2

: an organized crime syndicate in Japan

Examples of yakuza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Yabuki, then, is on the way out, but what keeps him there is his knowledge of the Seiryu-kai, a real-life yakuza gang that dominated the Japanese crime scene until relatively recently. — Damon Wise, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026

The game, set to be released in January 2027, is set in early 20th century Japan, following a foreigner who claws his way from destitute stranger to feared yakuza to entertainment tycoon. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 14 Sep. 2026

The team comes up with scenarios in which Emi fights a mech or battles yakuza in the clouds, and the fights defy expectations. — Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 21 Aug. 2026

The 71-year-old filmmaker reflects on his influence, his early yakuza movies and why young directors should embrace constraints before chasing Cannes. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, ruffian, gangster

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined at sense 1