noun
samurai
SA-muu-reye
noun
1
A member of the warrior class in feudal Japan who served and fought for a local lord (daimyo), bound by a strict code of loyalty and honor.
"The film follows a wandering samurai who is hired to protect a small farming village."
"Samurai were expected to master both the sword and poetry as part of their training."
How to Use Samurai
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA traditional Japanese warrior who served a noble lord, similar in role to a European knight.
Memory tip
The plural is the same as the singular — one samurai, many samurai.
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Common pairings
a samurai sword
a samurai warrior
the samurai class
Word Forms
samurai plural, samurais plural
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The film follows a wandering _____ who is hired to protect a small farming village.
Etymology
Borrowed directly from Japanese 侍 (samurai), originally meaning "one who serves."