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.
Presented in partnership with the Korean Cultural Center NY and the Korea Creative Content Agency New York Center, K-Music Night is an outdoor music festival that showcases some of South Korea’s established and emerging rock acts. Regina Kim, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025 He's been studying ways to prevent Lyme disease, according to the National Korean American Service and Education Consortium. Sam Gillette, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025 Holt International was founded in the 1950s by American couple Harry and Bertha Holt, Christians who adopted eight Korean children after the Korean War and set out to replicate their experience for other families. Yoonjung Seo, CNN Money, 1 Aug. 2025 Katie is described as Korean American, about 5 feet tall and 100 pounds, with brown eyes, dark brown hair and braces. Jason Green, Mercury News, 1 Aug. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Korean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Korean. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.

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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!