antipodean

American  

[an-tip-uh-dee-uhn] / ænˌtɪp əˈdi ən /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or originating from places on the opposite side of the globe, especially Australia and New Zealand; antipodal.

   One can only assume that an inch-long European cockroach is of little concern to a woman accustomed to antipodean spiders the size of dinner plates.

2. directly or diametrically opposite; antipodal.

   The vector map includes lines that pass through the antipodean meridian.

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noun

1. someone who lives in or comes from the opposite side of the globe, especially Australia or New Zealand.

   As the flooding disaster follows hot on the heels of Australia’s droughts and fires, we antipodeans wonder what we've done to have these natural disasters visited upon us.

Etymology

Origin of antipodean

antipode ( def. ) + -an ( def. )

Example Sentences

Australian actors can nail the US accent in part because Americans' natural way of speaking echoes the Antipodean approach to life -- more relaxed and, in some ways, "lazy", Mielewska said.

From Barron's • Mar. 5, 2026

"There is an Antipodean look to this selection, more so than any other Lions tour we've seen in the history of the British and Irish Lions tour," explained former Lion Ugo Monye.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2025

The two Antipodean currencies are often used as liquid proxies for the yuan.

From Reuters • Oct. 11, 2023

The Antipodean currencies often function as a liquid proxy for the yuan, owing to the region's exports to China, and are doubly vulnerable as the rate outlook drives up the greenback.

From Reuters • Aug. 21, 2023

From these it would appear that all was not going smoothly with Lola's plans, and that the start of the Antipodean venture was somewhat tempestuous.

From The Magnificent Montez From Courtesan to Convert by Wyndham, Horace