Ninja - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

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SKIP TO CONTENT ninja /ˈnɪndʒə/ /ˈnɪndʒə/ IPA guide

Other forms: ninjas

A ninja was a skilled fighter in feudal Japan, starting in the fourteenth or fifteenth century. Today, people like to call themselves ninjas for doing anything well — from making a touchdown to surviving a treacherous obstacle course.

The original ninjas were mercenary warriors and spies, and the methods they used were looked down on and considered dishonorable by the highest caste, the samurais. Ninjas were so fascinating and frequently discussed that they gained mythological status — in stories, people credited them with invisibility and the ability to walk on water, among other skills. In Japanese, the word ninja means "spy."

Definitions of ninja

noun a member of the ninja who were trained in martial arts and hired for espionage or sabotage or assassinations; a person skilled in ninjutsu see moresee less type of: mercenary, soldier of fortune a person hired to fight for another country than their own
noun a class of 14th century Japanese who were trained in martial arts and were hired for espionage and assassinations see moresee less type of: class, social class, socio-economic class, stratum people having the same social, economic, or educational status

Pronunciation US /ˈnɪndʒə/ UK /ˈnɪndʒə/ Cite this entry Style: MLA

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Copy citation DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘ninja'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback Word Family

Vocabulary lists containing ninja

All About Ninjas

We're celebrating International Ninja Day (December 5th) which honors the mysterious and skilled warriors of Japanese folklore and pop culture, recognizing their legacy of stealth and martial arts expertise. Spy this list of words associated with the shadowy legends.

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