sensei
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of sensei
< Japanese: teacher, master, doctor < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese xiānsheng ( xiān ahead + shēng born)
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.
What if Vrabel had lost his sensei mojo when his personal life spilled embarrassingly into public view?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
Soon, karate students — toddlers, teens and grown-ups — will fill the space, heeding the shouted instructions of their silver-haired sensei, Gerry Blanck.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026
"One day he stumbles upon a samurai sensei who teaches him...about real discipline and how he can not only protect himself, but protect other people too."
From BBC ● Mar. 13, 2026
He wanted to be a better person and a sensei worthy of the kids he instructed.
From Salon ● Feb. 13, 2025
“And I’m supposed to practice with the soroban tonight. The sensei gave me one.”
From "A Place to Belong" by Cynthia Kadohata
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
