Lao

American  

[lou] / laʊ /

noun

plural

Laos,

plural

Lao

1. a member of a people of Laos and northern Thailand.

2. the Tai language of the Lao.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Lao or their language.

LAO ¹ British  

abbreviation

1. Laos (international car registration)

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Lao ² British  

/ laʊ /

adjective

1. another name for Laotian

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Etymology

Origin of Lao

First recorded in 1880–85; from Lao Láo, a self-designation

Example Sentences

"Younger and middle-aged candidates make up the majority," the Lao News Agency said, adding that the government was aiming to elect women to at least 30 percent of seats.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

Honworld Group, the holding company for cooking wine and soy sauce maker Lao Heng He in Zhejiang province, said household spending was weaker than expected, leading other brands to unload inventory at low prices.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 28, 2026

On Monday, Lao media reported that they had found the body of a woman, named Pany Her.

From BBC • Dec. 22, 2025

The market has expanded dramatically since the Chinese company Lao Gan Ma introduced its sauce in the 1980s.

From Los Angeles Times • May 31, 2024

I listened, and it came again: two soft taps, followed by a whispered, “Lao Jiang! Lao Jiang!”

From "Red Scarf Girl: A Memoir of the Cultural Revolution" by Ji-li Jiang