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

Mejia, who is of Filipino ancestry, became the first Asian American to hold citywide elected office in Los Angeles.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

In 2021, more than 1,400 U.S.-trained Chinese scientists left American jobs for roles in China, a 22% jump from the previous year, according to a survey published by Asian American Scholar Forum, an advocacy group.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 19, 2026

The story was ultimately turned into a stage play and showcased by the East West Players, L.A.’s top theater company for authentic Asian American stories.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026

"Just seeing an Asian American, her struggle with her family and expectation, there's a lot of identifiers there that we take with us," Christine says.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 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