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

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Etymology

Origin of kiwi

Borrowed into English from Maori around 1825–35

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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

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

From Slate ● Aug. 8, 2025

As it faces habitat loss and fragmentation of its remaining habitat as well as the ravages of invasive species like domestic dogs, unmanaged kiwi populations are continuing to decline by 2% every year.

From Salon ● May 15, 2025

Ms Dove, of Kew's kitchen garden, said that while "traditional" fruits like apples were struggling, "the warm spring means crops like citrus, kiwi, and tropical plants are thriving earlier, with longer seasons and better yields".

From BBC ● May 1, 2025

The sadness falls off my mother a little bit each day, like peeling the ugly brown fuzz off a kiwi fruit and finding the sweet green goodness inside.

From "A Place at the Table" by Saadia Faruqi and Laura Shovan

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

It gives the EU greater market access for wine and spirits, high-end chocolates, luxury automobiles, machinery and relatively expensive fruits such as kiwis and pears, among other goods.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 2026

Dr Dimidi recommends eating two or three kiwis throughout the day or 8-10 prunes to improve constipation.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2025

We cross at the light and walk through pyramids of oranges, apples, and kiwis.

From "The Sky at Our Feet" by Nadia Hashimi

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