Kaiju
/ˈkaɪ.dʒuː/noun
A giant monster, especially one appearing in Japanese science-fiction films and related media.
Did you know?In Japanese, 怪獣 originally meant an uncanny or monstrous creature in a broad sense; its modern association with giant city-destroying monsters was cemented by Godzilla in 1954.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Chinese
Classical Chinese
怪獸
“Strange or monstrous beast”
Early Japanese
Japanese
怪獣（かいじゅう）
“A strange, uncanny, or monstrous animal”
1908
Japanese
怪獣
“A mysterious beast, used in literary and descriptive contexts”
1954
Japanese
Kaijū
“A giant monster, popularized internationally through the film Godzilla”
1950s–1960s
English
kaiju
“A Japanese-style giant monster in film, television, and popular culture”
Modern English
English
kaiju
“A giant monster, especially one modeled on Godzilla and related creatures”