origami

American  

[awr-i-gah-mee] / ˌɔr ɪˈgɑ mi /

noun

plural

origamis

1. the traditional Japanese art or technique of folding paper into a variety of decorative or representational forms, as of animals or flowers.

2. an object made by origami.

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origami British  

/ ˌɒrɪˈɡɑːmɪ /

noun

1. the art or process, originally Japanese, of paper folding

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Etymology

Origin of origami

1920–25; < Japanese, equivalent to ori fold + -gami, combining form of kami paper

Explanation

Have you ever folded a square sheet of paper into the shape of a crane? That's origami, the art of paper folding. Some origami is incredibly complicated and takes a long time to learn, while even small children can easily create simpler origami designs. Every piece of finished origami, whether it's a dog or an umbrella or a box, begins with a sheet of paper and specific folding techniques. Origami comes from two Japanese words, ori, "fold," and kami, "paper."

Example Sentences

These include building rigid DNA joints, incorporating flexible components, and using folding techniques inspired by origami.

From Science Daily • Mar. 31, 2026

However, the DNA origami vaccine showed advantages in stability and was easier to store and manufacture.

From Science Daily • Mar. 17, 2026

Zaman was inspired by the Japanese art form kirigami, like origami but instead of merely folding paper to achieve a 3D shape, kirigami also involves cutting.

From BBC • Mar. 3, 2026

Takaichi made cookies and origami animals for the office staff, said Ramlow, who keeps two paper cranes Takaichi made and hangs them on a Christmas tree every year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

Day after day with nothing to do, I learn to fold origami and to speak Vietnamese.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung