Japanese
Americanadjective
noun
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Japanese
plural
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Often Offensive. a native or inhabitant of Japan or a person of Japanese descent.
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the language of Japan. Japn., Japn
adjective
noun
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a native or inhabitant of Japan or a descendant of one
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the official language of Japan: the native language of approximately 100 million people: considered by some scholars to be part of the Altaic family of languages
Sensitive Note
In the past, the word Japanese has been used as a noun to describe a person or people (the store owner is a Japanese ). This usage is dated and often considered offensive today.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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anti-Japaneseadjective
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non-Japaneseadjective
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pro-Japaneseadjective
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pseudo-Japaneseadjective
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quasi-Japaneseadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of Japanese
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.
That was followed by an invitation to install her work inside the Japanese pavilion of the 1993 Venice Biennale.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
Using bright colours, shapes, patterns and reflections, Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, who has died at the age of 97, was known for creating extraordinary immersive worlds that delighted millions of people around the globe.
From BBC ● Aug. 27, 2026
"I was born and raised in Japan, but I'm not influenced by Japanese culture and tradition."
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
“Markets have leaned even more heavily towards a September move following persistent inflation, yen weakness and rising Japanese yields,” the senior market analyst adds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 27, 2026
The cut of the jacket was clearly influenced by the Japanese kimono.
From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
