manga

noun

man·​ga ˈmäŋ-gə How to pronounce manga (audio)
plural manga also mangas
: Japanese comic books and graphic novels considered collectively as a genre
The characters' faces beam the big-eyed, manically jolly winsomeness that in anime and manga signals contentment.—Peter Schjeldahl
also : an individual comic book or graphic novel of the manga genre
This black-and-white manga is based on the Japanese animated TV series of the same name … —Library Journal

Examples of manga in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The franchise has since spun off into a manga series, a trading card game, a long-running anime series and several movies. — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 13 Aug. 2026 Bookworms can find manga and other Japanese merchandise at 3930 NE Loop 820, Suite 300 in Haltom City. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Aug. 2026 For many, Takahashi’s manga and subsequent anime adaptations have been formative works for fans both in Japan and abroad. — Ollie Barder, Forbes.com, 10 Aug. 2026 Holmes cites the popular Japanese manga series Kagurabachi, about a sword-wielding young man on a quest to avenge his father. — Daniel Strauss, Vanity Fair, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for manga

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, comic, cartoon, from man- involuntary, aimless + -ga picture

First Known Use

circa 1951, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of manga was circa 1951

Rhymes for manga

See All Rhymes for manga

Browse Nearby Words

mang
manga
mangabeira
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Manga.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/manga. Accessed 15 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

manga

noun
man·​ga ˈmäŋ-gə How to pronounce manga (audio)
: a Japanese comic book or graphic novel

More from Merriam-Webster on manga

Nglish: Translation of manga for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about manga

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