CultureSeptember 4, 2026

shogun

SHOH-gun

Definition

The hereditary military leader who held actual governing power in Japan during the feudal period, while the emperor remained a largely symbolic figurehead.

Etymology

Derived from the Japanese 'shōgun', which is an abbreviation of 'sei-i taishōgun', meaning 'commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force against the barbarians'. It entered English in the early 17th century through accounts of travelers to Japan.

In the news

The article uses the term to describe the Tokugawa shogunate, the military government that held control over Edo for centuries before the Meiji Restoration shifted power to the emperor.

Tokyo's modern identity: how the Meiji Restoration reshaped Japan's capital

Read the full article ↗

Business Upturn

Related words

axel

A specific type of figure skating jump that begins with a forward takeoff from the…

Culture

baklava

A rich, sweet dessert pastry made of layers of filo dough filled with chopped nuts and…

Culture

everydayness

The quality of being mundane, ordinary, or routine, often used to describe a state of…

Culture

historicizing

The act of placing an object, event, or practice into a specific historical context or…

Culture

horological

Relating to the art, science, or technical skill of measuring time and constructing…

Culture

ikebana

The traditional Japanese art of floral arrangement, emphasizing shape, line, and form.

Culture

Learn words like this every day

Meet new words every morning.

Newspoken pulls carefully chosen words from the day’s news — with clear definitions, context, and light review that makes them stick. Get it on your phone.