yakuza
Americannoun
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any of various tightly knit Japanese criminal organizations having a ritualistic, strict code of honor.
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such organizations collectively.
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a member of such an organization; gangster.
noun
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a Japanese criminal organization involved in illegal gambling, extortion, gun-running, etc
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a member of this organization
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of yakuza
1960–65; < Japanese: racketeer, gambler, good-for-nothing, useless, from the name of a game in which the worst hand is of three cards marked ya eight, ku nine (< Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese jiǒu ), and -za three (combining form of sa ( n ) < Middle Chinese, equivalent to Chinese sān )
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.
It tells the dark fantasy story of orphaned teenager Denji, who is killed by the yakuza but reborn by merging with his pet devil to become Chainsaw Man.
From Barron's • Nov. 2, 2025
Through a fresh lens, Otani spins a lean and mean tale of female empowerment — think “Thelma & Louise” vs. the yakuza.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 19, 2024
Local residents and businesses have also stepped up and filed dozens of lawsuits against yakuza groups to bar them from their communities.
From Seattle Times • May 17, 2024
Tattoos have long been taboo in Japan, where they are associated with yakuza organised crime gangs.
From BBC • Feb. 17, 2024
"Itami was a very tongue-in-cheek filmmaker and he did a movie about the yakuza," Wu said.
From Salon • Jan. 4, 2024
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.
