noun

katana

kuh-TAH-nuh

Katana (noun) means a traditional Japanese sword with a single curved edge, historically carried by samurai. Example: “The museum displayed a centuries-old katana behind reinforced glass.”

noun

A traditional Japanese sword with a single curved edge, historically carried by samurai.

"The museum displayed a centuries-old katana behind reinforced glass."

"In the film, the hero draws his katana in a single fluid motion."

How to use katana

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA curved, single-edged Japanese sword traditionally used by samurai warriors.

Common pairings

draw a katana katana blade wield a katana

Word forms

katana plural, katanas plural

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The museum displayed a centuries-old _____ behind reinforced glass.

Etymology

From Japanese katana ("single-edged sword").

Origin: Japanese

Rhymes for katana

ana mana kana Dana nana Cana Rana Tana lana Yana Jana Hana

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Frequently asked questions

What does “katana” mean?

The word “katana” means a traditional Japanese sword with a single curved edge, historically carried by samurai. In plain terms, a curved, single-edged Japanese sword traditionally used by samurai warriors.

How do you pronounce “katana”?

“Katana” is pronounced kuh-TAH-nuh (/kəˈtɑnə/ in IPA).

How do you use “katana” in a sentence?

Here is “katana” used in a sentence: “The museum displayed a centuries-old katana behind reinforced glass.”

What part of speech is “katana”?

“Katana” is a noun.

Where does the word “katana” come from?

The word “katana” comes from Japanese. From Japanese katana ("single-edged sword").

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Vocabulary lists that include katana:

Words with Japanese origins Words that start with K