: 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
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
Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 10 June 2026
The festival runs July 18–25 and will present 65 films from 35 countries and regions in 27 languages, including two world premieres, one international premiere, three Asian premieres, 12 Southeast Asian premieres and 28 Malaysian premieres.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 June 2026
And then came a whole snapper served with Southeast Asian dipping sauces, piles of fresh herbs, and lettuce wrappers.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2026
The 41-room property sits near Kampong Glam and Little India, which suits its mix of Parisian salon mood and Southeast Asian flourish.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Classes planned for July include preserving and pickling foods by water bath canning, using and storing herbs, beekeeping and cold brew iced teas with Southeast Asian flavors from Mahal Tea Company.
—Annie Alleman, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
After news of the men’s disappearance spread, an A-Team of internationally renowned cave divers coalesced in the landlocked Southeast Asian country, brought together by the Lao People’s Volunteer Association, according to its president, Bounkham Luanglath.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
The Southeast Asian nation is a one-party communist state with no organized opposition and the government keeps a tight lid on information.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
There’s a 19th-century public market packed with Pennsylvania Dutch classics, and, on weekends in warmer months, an open-air Southeast Asian market in the middle of a sprawling city park.
—Regan Stephens, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026
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Adjective
In a collection of tributes published by Options, a Malaysian lifestyle publication, Papermoon remembered Willie’s skills at facilitating connections among Southeast Asian artists.
—Leigh Anne Miller, ARTnews.com, 10 June 2026
The festival runs July 18–25 and will present 65 films from 35 countries and regions in 27 languages, including two world premieres, one international premiere, three Asian premieres, 12 Southeast Asian premieres and 28 Malaysian premieres.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 9 June 2026
And then came a whole snapper served with Southeast Asian dipping sauces, piles of fresh herbs, and lettuce wrappers.
—Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 9 June 2026
The 41-room property sits near Kampong Glam and Little India, which suits its mix of Parisian salon mood and Southeast Asian flourish.
—Lauren Mowery, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026
Classes planned for July include preserving and pickling foods by water bath canning, using and storing herbs, beekeeping and cold brew iced teas with Southeast Asian flavors from Mahal Tea Company.
—Annie Alleman, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
After news of the men’s disappearance spread, an A-Team of internationally renowned cave divers coalesced in the landlocked Southeast Asian country, brought together by the Lao People’s Volunteer Association, according to its president, Bounkham Luanglath.
—Kocha Olarn, CNN Money, 28 May 2026
The Southeast Asian nation is a one-party communist state with no organized opposition and the government keeps a tight lid on information.
—ABC News, 26 May 2026
There’s a 19th-century public market packed with Pennsylvania Dutch classics, and, on weekends in warmer months, an open-air Southeast Asian market in the middle of a sprawling city park.
—Regan Stephens, Bon Appetit Magazine, 26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Southeast Asian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Southeast%20Asian. Accessed 19 Jun. 2026.
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