samurai

noun

sam·​u·​rai ˈsa-mə-ˌrī How to pronounce samurai (audio)
ˈsam-yə-
plural samurai
1
: a military retainer of a Japanese daimyo practicing the code of conduct of Bushido
2
: the warrior aristocracy of Japan

Examples of samurai 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.
Fox: The weapons are big deal, of course, because mastering a weapon is part of the feeling of samurai cinema. Katcy Stephan, Variety, 23 Apr. 2025 The stakes of the story become ever more human-on-human, with zombies largely relegated to one epic battle that sits at the cinematic junction of western, medieval and samurai. Mike Hale, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025 Toei has a long legacy of producing samurai movies, many of which were filmed at Toei Kyoto Studios, located in the historical city of Kyoto. Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 10 Apr. 2025 The Seattle Mariners have celebrated home runs by raising a golden trident, and while Shohei Ohtani was still playing for the Angels, the team would celebrate bombs by donning a samurai helmet. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 6 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for samurai

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of samurai was in 1727

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Cite this Entry

“Samurai.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/samurai. Accessed 1 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

samurai

noun
sam·​u·​rai ˈsam-(y)ə-ˌrī How to pronounce samurai (audio)
plural samurai
: a warrior serving a Japanese feudal lord and practicing a code of conduct which valued honor over life

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