First recorded in 1985–90; from Japanese, borrowing of English animation ( def. )
How does anime compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The 34-year-old self-proclaimed anime and manga fanatic told the BBC she felt compelled to take action.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
"I'm seeing more people open to expression during secondary school with anime designs and Spotify artist shirts, it's a good way to end your journey and treasure youth," she said.
From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026
Studio executives and producers are racing to find movie material in corners of the internet they once dismissed as some of the greatest threats to their business, from YouTube to anime to videogames.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 31, 2026
It is an anime about food and all that food represents as part of human culture.
From Salon • Apr. 28, 2024
Saw a TV and a bookcase and anime posters.
From "Two Degrees" by Alan Gratz
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
