banzai

noun

ban·​zai (ˌ)bän-ˈzī How to pronounce banzai (audio)
ˈbän-ˌzī
: a Japanese cheer or war cry

Examples of banzai 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 Ukrainian Center for Defenses Strategies noted the modern banzai tactics in fighting around west of the ruins of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. David Axe, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 The ultimate learn-by-doing experience might be a lesson from Japanese parachutist Yasuhiro Kubo, who holds the world record in the activity's banzai category. Dan Koeppel, Popular Mechanics, 14 Feb. 2021 Leave the banzai racing to Daron Rahlves (who’s damned good at it). Al Saracevic, San Francisco Chronicle, 24 Feb. 2018 Here, the Marines got their first grim taste of jungle fighting and the fury of mass banzai charges until the Leathernecks were relieved by Army troops. Brian Albrecht, cleveland.com, 28 July 2017 At dawn on July 7, 1944, more than 4,000 Japanese launched a banzai attack against the division’s 105th Infantry Regiment. Washington Post, 19 June 2017

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1892, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of banzai was in 1892

Dictionary Entries Near banzai

Cite this Entry

“Banzai.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/banzai. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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