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.
Korean Fried Chicken Bao Buns feature crispy chicken wrapped in a pillowy bun with a pepper glaze made with gochugaru red chili powder, kimchi aioli and pickled cucumbers. — Fielding Buck, Oc Register, 9 Apr. 2026 Neither the Korean War or the Vietnam War or the Gulf War were actually formally declared wars. — Esme Murphy, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2026 The Korean’s quartet of assists was one shy of the MLS single-game record set by Lionel Messi last year, and established a new high for LAFC. — Josh Gross, Daily News, 5 Apr. 2026 The restaurant doesn’t represent a single Asian cuisine but touches many cultures, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian among them. — Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 6 Apr. 2026 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

Phrases Containing Korean

Rhymes for Korean

See All Rhymes for Korean

Browse Nearby Words

Korea Bay
Korean
Korean box
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Korean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Korean. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Korean

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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