What does "manga" mean?
A comic originating in Japan.
Manga
/ˈmæŋɡə/ name, noun
name, noun ·Uncommon ·College level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A comic originating in Japan.
- Grammar: manga is listed as name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: comic book, graphic literature, graphic novels, japanese comics.
- Useful contrasts: Western comics, Western comics industry, native term.
- Usage evidence: He is absorbed in his manga magazine.
How to use "manga"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "manga" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "manga" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "manga" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "manga" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "manga" is acting as name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "comic book" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "manga", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A comic originating in Japan. countable
"English speakers are quick to notice the at times incorrect use of English in anime and manga. Many English words are customarily used in standard Japanese speech, and sometimes they are pronounced and employed in a manner quite different from their native use."
- 2 A covering for a crucifix.
- 3 Obsolete form of mango (“the fruit”). alt-of, obsolete
- 4 A mangalitsa pig.
- 5 graphic novel that originated in Japan, usually intended for adults and characterized by highly stylized art wordnet
Show 2 more definitions
- 6 An artistic style heavily used in, and associated with, Japanese comics, and that has also been adopted by a comparatively low number of comics from other countries. uncountable
"Touching on themes as disparate as sex, death, science fiction and romance, manga and anime catered to all ages and tastes. Commercial hits like “Pokémon” and “Dragon Ball Z,” meanwhile, projected a new image of Japan to the world."
- 7 Any comic in such a style, regardless of the country of origin. broadly, countable, proscribed, sometimes
"Lately I've been reading a Brazilian manga."
Proper Noun
- 1 A barangay of Aringay, La Union, Philippines.
- 2 A barangay of Pagadian, Zamboanga del Sur, Philippines.
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Western comicsWestern comics industrynative termnonmanga comics
Example
"He is absorbed in his manga magazine."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "manga"?
Common synonyms include: comic book, graphic literature, graphic novels, japanese comics, japanese comics industry, loanword.
How do you use "manga" in a sentence?
He is absorbed in his manga magazine.
How do you pronounce "manga"?
Pronounced /ˈmæŋɡə/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Japanese 漫画(まんが) (manga), from Middle Chinese 漫 (MC manH, “free, unrestrained”) + 畫 (MC hweaH|hweak, “drawing”). Compare Mandarin 漫畫／漫画 (mànhuà), Korean 만화 (漫畵／漫畫, manhwa). After an 1814 book by Katsushika Hokusai. Doublet of manhua and manhwa.
Etymology 2
From Spanish manga (“sleeve”). Doublet of manche.
Etymology 3
Short for mangalitsa.