samurai

[ sam-oo-rahy ]

noun

, Japanese History.

, plural sam·u·rai.

1. a member of the hereditary warrior class in feudal Japan.
2. a retainer of a daimyo.

samurai

/ ˈsæmʊˌraɪ; ˈsæmjʊ- /

noun

1. the Japanese warrior caste that provided the administrative and fighting aristocracy from the 11th to the 19th centuries
2. a member of this aristocracy

Word History and Origins

Origin of samurai¹

1720–30; < Japanese, earlier samurafi to serve, equivalent to sa- prefix + morafi watchfully wait (frequentative of mor- to guard)

Word History and Origins

Origin of samurai¹

C19: from Japanese

Example Sentences

Among the Ars-approved notables is the samurai action game Ghost of Tsushima, which is down to $40, tying the lowest price we've tracked.

From Ars Technica

This week, security researchers Robert Willis, John Jackson, and Jackson Henry of the Sakura Samurai ethical hacking group have shared details on how they were able to get their hands on sensitive systems and data hosted at Fermilab.

From Ars Technica

Although Yasuke is a forgotten and fabled figure, his real-life journey from stolen slave to star samurai is ripe for Hollywood.

From Quartz

You play as Jin Sakai, a samurai part of a larger defending force that suffers an absolutely crushing defeat against the Mongol army attempting to take over Japan.

From Time

And with the samurai sword, we just wanted it to be awesome.

From The Daily Beast

Of the Last Samurai he said, “They make it look like Japan would not have made it out of the feudal period without Tom Cruise.”

From The Daily Beast

We get to see Michonne, now an accepted and beloved member of the group, go full-on samurai again.

From The Daily Beast

One decorative panel worn under a black dress resembled samurai chest armor.

From The Daily Beast

Ditching the bleach, he seeped manly confidence with what appears to be a samurai ponytail.

From The Daily Beast

What became of the young Samurai and his wife after that I scarcely need to relate here.

From Project Gutenberg

He was adopted by another Samurai, and eventually marries Z., the daughter of the house.

From Project Gutenberg

There was generally a quarter in these towns where the Samurai lived quite apart from other people.

From Project Gutenberg

The samurai, or warriors, sheathed their swords, though they still regarded them as their very souls.

From Project Gutenberg

The old samurai, who had almost forgotten warfare, sought out their weapons, and gathered their troops.

From Project Gutenberg