Southeast Asian

1 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Southeast Asia (a region of indefinite boundaries usually thought of as including Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam and sometimes Singapore, Indonesia, and/or the Philippines) or its people

Southeast Asian

2 of 2

noun

plural Southeast Asians
1
: a native or inhabitant of Southeast Asia
2
: a person of Southeast Asian descent

Examples of Southeast Asian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
This tier includes Southeast Asian countries like Singapore, Myanmar and the Philippines, Central Asian nations like Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan, and South American nations like Argentina, Chile and Colombia. — Angelica Ang, Fortune, 17 Aug. 2026 Tsunami waves reached less than 1 meter (3 feet) high in the Southeast Asian region, per Reuters. — Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 15 Aug. 2026 The Southeast Asian nation sits on the Ring of Fire, a band around the Pacific Ocean that sets off frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. — Lex Harvey, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026 Much of the contraband is transhipped to China, but there is also demand in Vietnam itself and other Southeast Asian countries. — Los Angeles Times, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for Southeast Asian

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1898, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1943, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Southeast Asian was in 1898

Rhymes for Southeast Asian

See All Rhymes for Southeast Asian

Browse Nearby Words

Southeast Asia
Southeast Asian
southeast by east
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Southeast Asian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Southeast%20Asian. Accessed 21 Aug. 2026.

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