Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

Asiatic

American  
[ey-zhee-at-ik, ey-shee-, ey-zee-] / ˌeɪ ʒiˈæt ɪk, ˌeɪ ʃi-, ˌeɪ zi- /

adjective

  1. Asian.


noun

Usually Offensive.
  1. an Asian person.

Asiatic British  
/ ˌeɪʃɪˈætɪk, -zɪ- /

noun

  1. a word formerly used for Asian

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Sensitive Note

See Asian.

Usage

Asiatic is the correct word to use in scientific language when talking about flora, fauna and anthropology, for instance Asiatic lion . Using it as a noun is offensive and old-fashioned

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of Asiatic

First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin Asiāticus, from Greek Asiātikos; see Asia, -tic ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

A wildlife park in Kent has welcomed three Asiatic lions, saying it is now the only place in the county to have these endangered animals.

From BBC May 5, 2026

Majrad could have been the Asiatic cheetah’s salvation; instead, her demise may signal its doom.

From Slate May 25, 2024

The jailings prompted a massive outcry from conservationists, academics, and political leaders urging Iran to release the conservationists, who were working to protect endangered species such as the Asiatic cheetah.

From Science Magazine Apr. 10, 2024

Asiatic proximity isn’t just token aesthetics, but a meaningful lesson and layer to the show.

From Salon Mar. 3, 2024

These are sometimes called Asiatic, Attic, and Rhodian: hence “Atticism” and “Asianism” in this book’s glossary.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training