Maori

American  

[mah-aw-ree, -oh-ree, mou-ree, mah-ree] / ˈmɑ ɔ ri, -oʊ ri, ˈmaʊ ri, ˈmɑ ri /

noun

plural

Maoris,

plural

Maori

1. a member of the Native Polynesian population of New Zealand.

2. a Polynesian language, the language of the Maoris.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Maoris or their language.

Māori British  

/ ˈmaʊrɪ /

noun

1. a member of the people living in New Zealand and the Cook Islands since before the arrival of European settlers. They are descended from Polynesian voyagers who migrated in successive waves from the ninth century onwards

2. the language of this people, belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian family

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adjective

1. of or relating to this people or their language

Example Sentences

“Inevitably it will happen,” said Mike Tavioni, who runs a carving and arts workshop dedicated to preserving Cook Islands Maori life.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 27, 2025

As was the case six years ago, the response to the traditional Maori challenge was the prelude to a memorable win -- just England's ninth in 47 Tests against the All Blacks spanning 120 years.

From Barron's • Nov. 16, 2025

White was given the news at the Scotland training camp in Whangarei, New Zealand, where he was preparing to face the Maori All Blacks, Fiji and Samoa this summer.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2025

This year in Aotearoa, also known as New Zealand, the mountain Taranaki Maunga was recognized as a legal person because the Maori see it as an ancestor.

From Salon • Mar. 12, 2025

Moriori and Maori history constitutes a brief, small-scale natural experiment that tests how environments affect human societies.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond