Asian American

American  

[ey-zhuhn-uh-mer-i-kuhn, ey-shuhn-] / ˌeɪ ʒən əˈmɛr ɪ kən, ˈeɪ ʃən- /

noun

1. a citizen or resident of the U.S. of Asian birth or descent.

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adjective

1. of or relating to Asian Americans or their culture.

2. Asian-American, occurring between the United States and Asia.

   Protectionist tariffs negatively affected the volume of Asian-American trade.

Etymology

Origin of Asian American

First recorded in 1965–70

Compare meaning

How does asian-american compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Asian American vs. Asian

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Asian American

Yet it simultaneously professes anxiety about an Asian American who has decidedly not stood apart from American institutions and culture: After graduating from Yale Law School, Wang clerked for two Supreme Court justices.

From Slate ● May 26, 2026

The musical, which premiered on Broadway in 1958, was groundbreaking for the way it provided a showcase for Asian American performers.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 20, 2026

“It just felt like this would be the perfect confluence,” Hwang said, to revisit “Flower Drum Song” with other Asian American creatives, at the nation’s longest-running Asian American theater.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 27, 2026

Even more specifically, in Southern California, in Los Angeles, there is a different vibe of Asian American life than the rest of the country.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 23, 2026

On the table next to the futon was a framed photo of a young Black woman and an Asian American girl, posing in front of an enormous tree.

From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz