Southeast Asian

1 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Southeast Asia (a region of indefinite boundaries usually thought of as including Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam and sometimes Singapore, Indonesia, and/or the Philippines) or its people

Southeast Asian

2 of 2

noun

plural Southeast Asians
1
: a native or inhabitant of Southeast Asia
2
: a person of Southeast Asian descent

Examples of Southeast Asian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
In an area of town known for Southeast Asian cuisine, Vin Xuong’s fresh banh mi keep customers coming back. — Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 July 2026 With sweeping views of Lake Michigan and the city skyline, the bar draws inspiration from Southeast Asian cuisine, featuring dishes such as lobster dumplings, Thai fried chicken and ube flan. — Taryn White, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026 That’s equivalent to one in every 100 children across the Southeast Asian nation. — Charlie Campbell, Time, 20 July 2026 The evening’s centerpiece was the presentation of the ASEAN Records title to MIFFest, recognizing the festival’s ASEAN On Screen platform and its Malaysia Golden Global Awards (MGGA) program as a lasting hub for Southeast Asian cinema. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 19 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for Southeast Asian

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1898, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1943, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Southeast Asian was in 1898

Rhymes for Southeast Asian

See All Rhymes for Southeast Asian

Browse Nearby Words

Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian
southeast by east
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Southeast Asian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Southeast%20Asian. Accessed 3 Aug. 2026.

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