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Ninjas may seem mysterious, but the origin of their name is not. The word ninja derives from the Japanese characters nin and ja. Nin initially meant "persevere," but over time it developed the extended meanings "conceal" and "move stealthily." In Japanese, ja is the combining form of sha, meaning "person." Ninjas originated in the mountains of ancient Japan as practitioners of ninjutsu, a martial art sometimes called "the art of stealth" or "the art of invisibility." They often served as military spies and were trained in disguise, concealment, geography, meteorology, medicine, and also the arts of combat and self-defense we associate with modern martial arts. Popular legends still identify them with espionage and assassinations, but modern ninjas are most likely to study ninjutsu to improve their physical fitness and self-defense skills.
Examples of ninja in a Sentence
David Faris, Newsweek, 18 Jan. 2025
Hollis describes how Richard climbs up to their balcony like a ninja by grasping onto the building’s wiring and satellite dishes.
—Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025
Once that gets out of the way, though, Ino is a super cool, super talented ninja — although her storylines aren't quite as flashy as others'.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 29 Dec. 2024
Gravy is side-served for dipping or slathering (my recommendation), and Gregory’s citrusy-tart cranberry relish slices through all that fat like a holiday ninja.
—Amy Drew Thompson, Orlando Sentinel, 13 Nov. 2024
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Cite this Entry
“Ninja.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ninja. Accessed 22 Jan. 2025.
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