Korean

noun

Ko·​re·​an kə-ˈrē-ən How to pronounce Korean (audio)
 especially Southern  (ˌ)kō-
1
: a native or inhabitant of Korea
2
: the language of the Korean people
Korean adjective

Examples of Korean in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Justice Department estimates these schemes generate hundreds of millions of dollars annually, with much of those funds going directly to the North Korean Ministry of Defense and the country's nuclear missile program. Melissa Mahtani, CBS News, 18 Apr. 2025 Disney+’s Korean Drama ‘Nine Puzzles’ Set For May Release The latest original drama series out of Korea for Disney+, Nine Puzzles, will launch globally and on Hulu in the U.S. on May 21. Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 17 Apr. 2025 Twice’s Nayeon, Jeongyeon, Momo, Sana, Jihyo, Mina, Dahyun, Chaeyoung, and Tzuyu join on the second verse of the record with a performance entirely in Korean. Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 17 Apr. 2025 Newsweek has contacted the North Korean Embassy in China for comment by email. Arick Wierson, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Korean

Word History

First Known Use

1600, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Korean was in 1600

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Cite this Entry

“Korean.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Korean. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

Korean

noun
Ko·​re·​an kə-ˈrē-ən How to pronounce Korean (audio)
1
: a person born or living in Korea
2
: the language of the Korean people
Korean adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on Korean

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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