ENGLISH
REFERENCE

anime

n.
US //ˌænɪˈmeɪ// UK //ˈænɪmˌeɪ// ani·me
  1. 1 Japanese animation style (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a style of drawing and film-making that started in Japan.

    the medium or artistic style of Japanese animation. Uncountable when referring to the genre as a whole.

    Example

    Many teenagers enjoy watching anime because the stories are often very exciting.

    Example

    The global influence of anime has led many Western studios to adopt its characteristic visual language and narrative pacing.
    • japanese animation
  2. 2 a specific show or film (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a specific animated show or movie from Japan.

    an individual animated work produced in Japan. Countable in this sense.

    Example

    Have you seen the new anime that everyone is talking about on social media?

    Example

    The studio released a groundbreaking anime last year that challenged traditional genre boundaries and attracted a mature audience.
    • animated series
    • animated film
  3. 3 natural resin (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    a hard, clear substance from certain trees used to make varnish.

    a hard, transparent resin obtained from various tropical trees, primarily used in the manufacture of varnishes and lacquers.

    Example

    The carpenter used a special anime resin to give the wood a shiny finish.

    Example

    The chemical properties of anime make it an ideal base for high-quality historical varnishes.

    Usage

    Often spelled 'animé' to distinguish it from the animation sense.
Etymology 1

Borrowed from Japanese アニメ (anime), an abbreviation of アニメーション (animēshon), itself borrowed from English animation, from Latin animātiō, from animāre.

Etymology 2

Borrowed from French animé (“animated”) (from the insects that are entrapped in it); or native name.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Last updated June 19, 2026