katana
noun
ka·ta·na
ˌkə-ˈtä-nə 
plural katanas
: a slightly curved, single-edged sword historically worn by the Japanese samurai
Set in the Taisho era of Japan, the supernatural blends in seamlessly with the historical era as the primary weapon of choice for the characters is the katana, a traditional Japanese sword.—
Lani Lee
Lani LeeThe neon-hued cyberpunk motif serves as the backdrop for [John] Wick to exude his skill with katanas …—Harry Khachatrian
Harry KhachatrianWednesday's episode of "Forged in Fire" was a surreal experience, said Mike Deibert … because he was asked to make a katana, inspired by Hatori Hanzo and the movie "Kill Bill," a first for him.—Craig Shoup
Craig ShoupExamples of katana in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dual katanas are strong against polearms while odachis specialize in taking down adversaries wielding heavy weapons.
—Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Fire dances off the hilt of the katana in her hand.
—Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
There are four playable characters: two different Predator types, a cyborg woman with a katana, and Major Dutch Schaeffer, the protagonist from the first Predator film with an artistic likeness that is just on the cusp of getting the game sued by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
—Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
Its protagonist, a teen-ager named Chihiro, is the son of a blacksmith whose enchanted katana blades are in demand among assassins.
—Matt Alt, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
When each man first appears — wielding a katana and hitching a ride on a military drone, respectively — their stature alone feels worth the price of admission.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
In the movies, zombies are impervious to knives, guns, katanas, spiked baseball bats and most other weapons an inventive auteur can think up.
—Jason Rose, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
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Gieson Cacho, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
Fire dances off the hilt of the katana in her hand.
—Alyssa Mercante, Rolling Stone, 25 Sep. 2025
There are four playable characters: two different Predator types, a cyborg woman with a katana, and Major Dutch Schaeffer, the protagonist from the first Predator film with an artistic likeness that is just on the cusp of getting the game sued by Arnold Schwarzenegger.
—Daniel Dockery, Vulture, 22 Sep. 2025
Its protagonist, a teen-ager named Chihiro, is the son of a blacksmith whose enchanted katana blades are in demand among assassins.
—Matt Alt, New Yorker, 25 Aug. 2025
When each man first appears — wielding a katana and hitching a ride on a military drone, respectively — their stature alone feels worth the price of admission.
—Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 14 Aug. 2025
In the movies, zombies are impervious to knives, guns, katanas, spiked baseball bats and most other weapons an inventive auteur can think up.
—Jason Rose, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Katana.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/katana. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.
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