Asiatic

American  

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

adjective

1. Asian.

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noun

Usually Offensive.

1. an Asian person.

Asiatic British  

/ ˌeɪʃɪˈætɪk, -zɪ- /

noun

1. a word formerly used for Asian

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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

• anti-Asiatic adjective
• half-Asiatic adjective
• non-Asiatic adjective
• pro-Asiatic adjective
• trans-Asiatic adjective

Etymology

Origin of Asiatic

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

Example Sentences

Last March, a female Asiatic cheetah, dubbed Majrad by scientists, was killed by a car in Iran’s Semnan province.

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

Yampil, a 12-year-old Asiatic black bear, was one of the few animals to survive the attack in the Donetsk region.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2024

He was trucked, shipped, and shuttled on the Asiatic Fleet, and finally encamped under palm trees on the Philippine shore, to make his stand for General MacArthur.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver