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Definition of samurai

samurai

/ˈsæm.ə.raɪ/
sam · u · rai
Plural:samurai
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samurai Lexical Profile

samurai Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A member of the hereditary military nobility and officer caste of medieval and early-modern Japan, bound by a strict code of honor and loyalty known as bushido.

Example

"The museum exhibition featured intricate suits of armor and calligraphy created by prominent samurai during the Edo period."

2

The military aristocracy or warrior class of feudal Japan considered collectively as a social caste.

Example

"Under the Meiji Restoration, the traditional privileges of the samurai were gradually abolished in favor of a modern national army."

• Nearby Words

samson
samuel
samur
samurai
san
san antonio
san antonio river

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Japanese samurai, the nominalized form of the Old Japanese verb saburau meaning "to wait upon" or "to serve in close attendance to the nobility."

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Samurai. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/samurai
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