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

The rare presence of three Chinese naval ships in the Tasman Sea has put both antipodean countries on alert in recent days, with Australia calling it "unusual".

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2025

The antipodean currency was last 0.07% lower at $0.6126, though was not too far from an over two-week high of $0.6138 hit on Friday.

From Reuters • Jun. 12, 2023

British farmers, meanwhile, fear beef and lamb from the antipodean nations’ large livestock industries will flood the British market under the deal’s vastly increased quotas.

From Seattle Times • May 31, 2023

The problem, in what amounts to an antipodean spin on “Flatliners,” is that there are consequences to staying possessed for more than a brief window of time.

From New York Times • May 24, 2023

"Art," says The Sydney Bulletin, a curious antipodean paper, "is selection."

From Sinister Street, vol. 2 by MacKenzie, Compton