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Asian

[ey-zhuhn, ey-shuhn]

adjective

  1. of, belonging to, or characteristic of Asia or its inhabitants.



noun

  1. a native or inhabitant of Asia or a person of Asian descent.

Asian

/ ˈeɪʃən, ˈeɪʒən /

adjective

  1. of or relating to Asia or to any of its peoples or languages

  2. of or relating to natives of the Indian subcontinent or any of their descendants, esp when living in Britain

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a native or inhabitant of Asia or a descendant of one

  2. a native of the Indian subcontinent or a descendant of one

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Usage

To refer to someone from the Indian subcontinent as an Asian is potentially offensive and should be avoided. If you are talking about one specific group, it is better to say so, for instance people of Indian descent
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Sensitive Note

Asian is the most commonly used term referring to people in or from Asia, especially East Asia. In American English, Oriental as a noun or adjective applied to people is outdated and has become a sensitive term to be avoided. It is associated with a bygone era in which Asians had subordinate status and their culture was perceived as strange and exotic. Also, the origin of the term Oriental represents a Eurocentric view of geography, since the Orient, or East, is east of Europe. However, Oriental is a neutral, inoffensive term when used as an adjective describing Asian culture or things from Asia. Similarly, the term Asiatic is usually offensive when referring to people, but neutral when referring to Asian culture, animals, etc. Though Asian is an acceptable ethnic designation in most contexts, it is best to be as specific as possible, rather than to group all Asians into a single cultural identity. In general, people of South, Southeast, and East Asian origin prefer to be identified by their country of origin: for example, Indian, Pakistani, Indonesian, Korean, Japanese, or Chinese. The people of the Middle East and Polynesia are not usually referred to as Asian.
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Other Word Forms

  • anti-Asian adjective
  • half-Asian adjective
  • non-Asian adjective
  • pro-Asian adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of Asian1

First recorded in 1555–65; from Latin Գܲ, from Greek ó; Asia, -an
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Waiting our turn, we’re left to contemplate the soles of his feet — a familiar symbol of path-following humility, whether in Andrea Mantegna’s Italian Renaissance painting of a “Dead Christ” or countless Asian sculptures of Buddha.

From

In many East Asian cuisines, there’s an appreciation for bounce and resistance, what Americans might describe as “toothsome” or mistake for undercooked.

From

It adds that the significant number of perpetrators of Asian ethnicity identified in local reviews and high-profile prosecutions across the country also warrants further examination.

From

While living in various Asian countries for the better part of a decade, I’m typically bound to international brands like Cadbury and Ritter Sport.

From

Solis said she has fought for stronger regulations for a problem that isn’t confined to the Latino community, pointing to recent cases in the county involving immigrants from Asian and European countries.

From

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Asia MinorAsian American