Pokémon

American  

[poh-kee-mahn, ‐key‐] / ˈpoʊ kiˌmɑn, ‐keɪ‐ /

Trademark.

1. a media franchise including video games, animated television series, movies, card games, etc. that depict a fictional class of pet monsters and their trainers.

2. a pet monster in this fictional world.

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Etymology

Origin of Pokémon

1995–2000; shortening of Japanese Poketto Monsutā , itself a loan translation of English pocket monsters

Example Sentences

Since then, lacking a routine, she has grown bored, she said, and has cut back on small luxuries such as buying Pokémon cards.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 11, 2026

Games that have just been released, like Pokémon Pokopia and Tomodachi Life have received positive online attention, and sales are strong.

From Barron's • May 8, 2026

The incident occurred on the same day as a crowd of Pokémon fans camped outside the store, awaiting the latest trading card drop.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Ghibli and Pokémon iconography may be broadly recognizable, but Lego’s appeal, represented by its zillions of plastic blocks and many movies and TV series, transcends nations.

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2026

And knows Axel for Pokémon battles in the woods, and playing games with Ms. Dale, and eating strawberry ice pops at the picnic table on hot days, and making silly faces, and being kind.

From "A Bird Will Soar" by Alison Green Myers