yakuza

noun

ya·​ku·​za ˈyä-ku̇-ˌzä How to pronounce yakuza (audio)
plural yakuza
1
: a Japanese gangster
2
: an organized crime syndicate in Japan

Examples of yakuza 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.
Also on the way is a remake of yakuza film A Colt Is My Passport from Amazon MGM’s Orion Pictures, which has wrapped production. — Matt Grobar, Deadline, 18 Aug. 2026 The 71-year-old filmmaker reflects on his influence, his early yakuza movies and why young directors should embrace constraints before chasing Cannes. — Robert Abele, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2026 Taiza Kujo is an attorney who specializes in cases the establishment won't touch, including those involving the yakuza. — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 27 Mar. 2026 The film begins in 1964 Nagasaki where 14-year-old Kikuo has witnessed the murder of his father, a yakuza gang leader. — Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 17 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for yakuza

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, ruffian, gangster

First Known Use

1964, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of yakuza was in 1964

Browse Nearby Words

Yakutsk
yakuza
yak-yak
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Yakuza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/yakuza. Accessed 24 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

How to Pronounce the Trickiest Menu Items

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List

Even More Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

The Words of the Week - Aug. 21

16 Glee-ridden Words from Schitt's Creek
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

Words from the 'Odyssey'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
alt-684346df967d5
Add A Letter Quiz Pick the letter that goes in the same spot in fou...
See All