Pokémon
American-
a media franchise including video games, animated television series, movies, card games, etc. that depict a fictional class of pet monsters and their trainers.
-
a pet monster in this fictional world.
Etymology
Origin of Pokémon
1995–2000; shortening of Japanese Poketto Monsutā , itself a loan translation of English pocket monsters
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Pokémon cards have been collected and traded for 30 years but since Covid, they have attracted more attention online, with some of the rarest selling for huge sums.
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026
"This was heartbreaking but as a business, as a community we'll come back from it. We love Pokémon."
From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026
The artist shared that his favorite Pokémon is Mewtwo, the genetically engineered clone of the mythical Pokémon Mew.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
At its peak, Unity was a wildly popular game engine and the driving force behind viral crazes like Pokémon Go.
From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026
How’s this for pathetic: me in pajama pants and a questionably clean T-shirt from Mom’s law firm picnic, smeared in Cheeto dust, on the couch watching YouTube videos of Pokémon dancing to Kesha songs.
From "What If It's Us" by Becky Albertalli and Adam Silvera
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
