sushi

noun

: a category of Japanese dishes (such as nigiri and sushi rolls) that are typically made with vinegar-dressed rice topped or rolled with raw or cooked seafood, vegetables, or cooked egg and often other ingredients (such as nori, avocado, or cucumber)
going out for sushi
a sushi bar/restaurant
Shinjuku, which takes its name from a Tokyo rail station, uses robots and miniature bullet trains with a constantly rotating conveyor belt to deliver sushi to diners.—Sue Gleiter

Note: While sashimi is sometimes considered a type of sushi, the two are more typically distinguished from one another.

… open New Year's Eve, serving sushi, sashimi and a blend of Japanese and Japanese-American dishes …—Bradley Hohulin
see also sushi rice

Examples of sushi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Wawa said the sushi is being offered in its Express Grab & Go cases at select stores. — Eva Andersen, CBS News, 7 Oct. 2026 Azayaka Japanese Fusion Roseville After nearly two years in Roseville, the Sacramento sushi restaurant close up shop. — Emma Hall october 7, Sacbee.com, 7 Oct. 2026 Unseasonal weather that curtails feasting on the scrumptious sushi served on the roof terrace from May to October. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Oct. 2026 After working up a serious appetite, the men tucked into a local delicacy, poutine, as well as the main dish, something called sushi pizza. — Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 6 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for sushi

Word History

Etymology

Japanese

First Known Use

1879, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sushi was in 1879

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sushi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sushi. Accessed 14 Oct. 2026.

Kids Definition

sushi

noun
: cold rice formed into any of various shapes and topped or wrapped with pieces of often raw seafood or vegetables

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