Wagyu

noun

Wa·​gyu ˈwä-(ˌ)gyü How to pronounce Wagyu (audio)
variants or less commonly wagyu
plural Wagyu also wagyu
1
: any of four strains of a breed of black or red Japanese cattle valued for their highly marbled meat
In the U.S., Japanese Wagyu cows have been crossbred with those of other breeds to produce unsurpassably tender, melt-in-your-mouth beef.Saveur

Note: Wagyu were developed in Japan in the late 1800s to 1910 by crossbreeding native cattle with European breeds.

2
or Wagyu beef or less commonly wagyu beef : beef from Wagyu cattle
The surface of my Wagyu was intricately laced with delicate veins of off-white fat—by laboratory measurement, three times more marbling fat than U.S. prime-grade beef, though with slightly less cholesterol.Jeffrey Steingarten
Wagyu beef is tender and flavorful because of its intramuscular fat, or marbling.Sam Gugino
compare kobe beef

Examples of Wagyu 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.
The main draw at La Tête d’Or though is the beef, offered in various breeds — Angus, several styles of Wagyu — and cuts, from Porterhouse to French-style Côte de boeuf and filet mignon. Kristen Tauer, WWD, 22 Nov. 2024 The Wagyu Tetela is a modern twist on a classic Oaxacan dish, filled with nutrient-rich greens and tender wagyu beef. Caroline Tell, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024 The Japanese broadcasters had filled the lack of action by sampling a Wagyu burger from Yankee Stadium. Max Kim, Los Angeles Times, 29 Oct. 2024 What makes a cut of Wagyu more expensive and rarer? Chelsea Davis, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Wagyu 

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Japanese wagyū, from wa "Japan, Japanese" + gyū "cattle, cow"

First Known Use

1963, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Wagyu was in 1963

Dictionary Entries Near Wagyu

Cite this Entry

“Wagyu.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Wagyu. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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