kiwi

American  

[kee-wee] / ˈki wi /

noun

• kiwis
  plural

1. any of several flightless, ratite birds of the genus Apteryx, of New Zealand, allied to the extinct moas.

2. Also called Chinese gooseberry.  the egg-sized, edible berry of the Chinese gooseberry, having fuzzy brownish skin and slightly tart green flesh.

3. Slang.

   1. a member of an air service, as in World War I, who is confined to ground duty.

   2. a former pilot or member of a flight crew.

4. Informal. a New Zealander.

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kiwi British  

/ ˈkiːwiː /

noun

1. any nocturnal flightless New Zealand bird of the genus Apteryx, having a long beak, stout legs, and weakly barbed feathers: order Apterygiformes See ratite

2. short for kiwi fruit

3. informal a New Zealander

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• kiwis
  plural

Etymology

Origin of kiwi

Borrowed into English from Maori around 1825–35

Explanation

A kiwi is a sweet fruit that's originally from China but today is most often grown in New Zealand. See that little green fruit with tiny edible seeds in your fruit salad? It's kiwi! New Zealanders use the word kiwi for a chicken-sized, flightless bird, or sometimes as a nickname for a person from New Zealand. The small, fuzzy-skinned fruit that North Americans call kiwi is known as either kiwifruit or Chinese gooseberry in New Zealand. The word kiwi first referred to the bird, and it comes from Maori.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

kiwi kiwis

Key exports from India include basmati rice, sugar, fresh fruits and pharmaceuticals, while major imports include pistachios, apples, kiwi and dates.

From Barron's ● Jan. 13, 2026

The Deluxe Fresh Fruit Basket includes quite the assortment, from Royal Riviera pears to mangos, pineapple, kiwi, apples, baby bananas, and even an avocado.

From Salon ● Dec. 4, 2025

Eating several kiwi fruit a day can help relieve constipation and is a better starting point than worrying about a high-fibre diet, according to new guidance on the condition.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2025

Before humans, flightless birds like the kākāpō and kiwi thrived.

From Slate ● Aug. 8, 2025

And Lord knows, she might even like one of these fancy ones with the kiwi and passion fruit and all that mixed up in there.

From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds

Instead, add a handful of berries, kiwis, or other fruits rich in fiber and antioxidants.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 21, 2026

"Be sure to get adequate protein and include foods rich in vitamin C like strawberries, kiwis, red bell peppers, and citrus fruits."

From Science Daily ● Jan. 29, 2026

“Let’s bring them back. You want kiwis? Bring them back.”

From Salon ● May 15, 2025

Another project has reintroduced kiwis to the hills around Wellington after a trapping campaign reduced predator numbers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 5, 2024

I told him I’ve been carrying a sketchbook around since I was four, and he told me he’s allergic to kiwis.

From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam