Thai
Americanadjective
noun
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Thais,
plural
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Thai
plural
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Also called Thailander. a native or or inhabitant of Thailand, or a person of Thai descent.
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the language of Thailand, a member of the Tai group of languages.
adjective
noun
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a native or inhabitant of Thailand
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the language of Thailand, sometimes classified as belonging to the Sino-Tibetan family
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of Thai
First recorded in 1800–10; from Thai; literally, “free,” a self-designation
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 50-year-old father and his two sons have been rescued after they were found adrift off the Thai island of Koh Samui, a local official told AFP on Saturday.
From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026
If not tacos, I’ll maybe be craving some Thai food.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
That and other incidents have drawn attention to a controversial Thai government program that allows police and soldiers to buy subsidized firearms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026
It counts many prominent Thai figures as its alumni, from diplomats and athletes to several prime ministers.
From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026
After he’d been going to Krua Thai for about a year, Sonja gently asked if he’d pose for a photo with her.
From "Endgame" by Frank Brady
The World Bank, meanwhile, forecasts that by the early 2040s, the number of Thais over 80 who need assistance will increase sixfold to around 2.5 million.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
Meanwhile, that first generation of Thais who had fewer babies is now getting old.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 26, 2026
They often hold public processions and are widely seen receiving alms of goodwill from ordinary Thais.
From Barron's ● Jul. 3, 2026
Thai society has evolved, said social psychology lecturer Apitchaya Chaiwutikornwanich, explaining that young Thais have "learned the concept of human rights and the rights to own one's body".
From Barron's ● May 25, 2026
The historical southward expansions of Burmese, Laotians, and Thais from South China completed the Sinification of tropical Southeast Asia.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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.
