ninja
/ˈnɪnd͡ʒə/
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.87 in modern English
Meaning
noun
One trained in ninjutsu, especially one used for espionage, assassination, and other tasks requiring stealth during Japan's shogunate period.
noun
One who very skillful, considered similar to the historical ninja, especially in covert or stealthy operation.
noun
One who very skillful, considered similar to the historical ninja, especially in covert or stealthy operation.
Slang
noun
One who very skillful, considered similar to the historical ninja, especially in covert or stealthy operation.
Dated; Informal
noun
One who is considered to resemble the historical ninja in some way.
noun
Synonym of nigga, used as a friendly term of address.
noun
Synonym of nigga, used as a friendly term of address.
Example Sentences
- "He used to work in the Japanese agency as a ninja."
- "The men... are now learning to be ninja or ‘stealers-in’."
- "Spies prowled Japan from the seventh century, but the secretive ninja left few written records."
- "For months the Japanese spoke of national-security adviser Henry Kissinger as a ninja—the magician of Japanese legends who performs supernatural acts and practices sorcery."
- "Other bankers are dubbing themselves ninja, modern-day descendants of the superspies of 17th century samurai houses."
- "Young banking and securities firms executives (nicknamed the ninja...) are especially assigned to cultivate relations with the finance ministry. Only verbal instructions are ever given to the ninja."
Etymology
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈnɪnd͡ʒə/
- British English: /ˈnɪnd͡ʒə/