: of, relating to, or characteristic of South Asia (a region of indefinite boundaries usually thought of as including all or some of the following countries: Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Maldives) or its people
plural South Asians
1
: a native or inhabitant of South Asia
2
: a person of South Asian descent
Examples of South Asian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Joe Hernandez, NPR, 18 May 2026
Right on the beach is Leon’s at Meads Bay, serving Caribbean classics with South Asian flair, and there’s live music on the weekends.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
The two co-founders bring complementary backgrounds in streaming and South Asian cinema scholarship.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 May 2026
In public leadership, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was honored after becoming the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor in a high-turnout election, while Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was recognized following her reelection with an overwhelming majority.
—Martina Di Licosa, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Their choreographed debate exploited and skewered stereotypes via expert timing and pointed wit, hitting home with the predominantly Asian and South Asian audience.
—Malina Saval, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Today, the two South Asian neighbors remain on high alert amid tit-for-tat threats and reports that both sides are preparing for more war.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
There’s a movie version set in London’s South Asian community starring Riz Ahmed.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
The Antiquities Trafficking Unit has been investigating Kapoor and his associates’ looting, exportation, and sale of Southeast and South Asian artifacts for over a decade.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 6 May 2026
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Adjective
Legumes have long been a central feature of many cuisines, from dal in India and other South Asian countries to the beans-and-rice dishes common across Latin America and beyond.
—Joe Hernandez, NPR, 18 May 2026
Right on the beach is Leon’s at Meads Bay, serving Caribbean classics with South Asian flair, and there’s live music on the weekends.
—Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 May 2026
The two co-founders bring complementary backgrounds in streaming and South Asian cinema scholarship.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 15 May 2026
In public leadership, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was honored after becoming the city’s first Muslim and South Asian mayor in a high-turnout election, while Boston Mayor Michelle Wu was recognized following her reelection with an overwhelming majority.
—Martina Di Licosa, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026
Their choreographed debate exploited and skewered stereotypes via expert timing and pointed wit, hitting home with the predominantly Asian and South Asian audience.
—Malina Saval, Los Angeles Times, 13 May 2026
Today, the two South Asian neighbors remain on high alert amid tit-for-tat threats and reports that both sides are preparing for more war.
—Sudarsan Raghavan, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
There’s a movie version set in London’s South Asian community starring Riz Ahmed.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
The Antiquities Trafficking Unit has been investigating Kapoor and his associates’ looting, exportation, and sale of Southeast and South Asian artifacts for over a decade.
—Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 6 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“South Asian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/South%20Asian. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
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