Korean

noun

Ko·​re·​an kə-ˈrē-ən How to pronounce Korean (audio)
especially Southern (ˌ)kō-
1
: a native or inhabitant of Korea
2
: the language of the Korean people
Korean adjective

Examples of Korean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
An active figure in his community both as a legislator and otherwise, the Korean War veteran was often seen at the Alamosa Veterans Day Parade driving his 1943 Ford GPW Jeep, the Alamosa Citizen said. Christa Swanson, CBS News, 2 Jan. 2026 Has the Korean War stirred the same emotional responses as the two world wars? Rosa Lyster, Harpers Magazine, 30 Dec. 2025 There’s also the fact that the Giants haven’t had a Japanese player since Nori Aoki in 2015 (Jung Hoo Lee was born in Japan but is South Korean). Justice Delos Santos, Mercury News, 29 Dec. 2025 Coupang said users can check their eligibility for the vouchers starting Jan. 15, according to a Google translation of the statement in Korean. Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 29 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Korean

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Korean was in 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Korean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Korean. Accessed 5 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

Korean

noun
Ko·​re·​an kə-ˈrē-ən How to pronounce Korean (audio)
1
: a person born or living in Korea
2
: the language of the Korean people
Korean adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on Korean

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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