nisei

noun

ni·​sei nē-ˈsā How to pronounce nisei (audio)
ˈnē-ˌsā
plural nisei
often capitalized
: a son or daughter of Japanese immigrants who is born and educated in America and especially in the U.S.

Examples of nisei in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web But growing up near downtown L.A. in the ’30s and ’40s exposed her to the customs of her many nisei Japanese friends, too. Scott Timberg, Los Angeles Magazine, 29 Jan. 2018 By then the Army was enlisting nisei soldiers to fight in Africa and Europe. Smithsonian, 29 Jan. 2017 Kashiwagi said that many of the seniors were nisei — second-generation Japanese Americans born in the U.S. — who had spent their youth detained in World War II incarceration camps. NBC News, 6 Oct. 2017 The miniature spelling master has become an Internet celebrity, impressing people with her ability to crack words that would stump most adults, such as Panglossian, Baedeker, nisei, and Croesus. The Washington Post, Twin Cities, 8 Mar. 2017 By then the Army was enlisting nisei soldiers to fight in Africa and Europe. Smithsonian, 2 May 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'nisei.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, literally, second generation, from ni second + sei generation

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of nisei was in 1929

Dictionary Entries Near nisei

Cite this Entry

“Nisei.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nisei. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

nisei

noun
ni·​sei (ˈ)nē-ˈsā How to pronounce nisei (audio)
ˈnē-ˌsā
plural nisei also niseis
: a son or daughter of Japanese immigrants who is born and educated in America
Etymology

Japanese, literally "second generation"

More from Merriam-Webster on nisei

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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