shogun

noun

sho·​gun ˈshō-gən How to pronounce shogun (audio)
: one of a line of military governors ruling Japan until the revolution of 1867–68
shogunal adjective
shogunate noun

Examples of shogun 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.
Katsuo-ji has long been associated with success and victory for over a thousand years, with many emperors and shoguns visiting the temple for blessings. Rebecca Cairns, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2025 Ishido, under the belief that the young heir to the shogun title and his mother, Ochiba-no-kata (Fumi Nikaido), are on his side, thinks his win will be quick and easy so long as the heir’s banners fly alongside his own. Yasmeen Hamadeh, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2024 There’s Lord Yoshi Toranaga (Hiroyuki Sanada), an influential leader whose allegiance to the realm’s shogun, an equivalent to a monarch or a king, is being questioned by political rivals. Yasmeen Hamadeh, Peoplemag, 9 Sep. 2024 But given that Tokugawa ushered in two centuries of peace after becoming shogun, where will the conflict come from? Julian Sancton, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Aug. 2024 See All Example Sentences for shogun

Word History

Etymology

Japanese shōgun

First Known Use

1727, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shogun was in 1727

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shogun.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shogun. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

shogun

noun
sho·​gun ˈshō-gən How to pronounce shogun (audio)
: any of a line of military governors ruling Japan until the revolution of 1867–68
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!