Cook Islands

American  

plural noun

1. a group of islands in the South Pacific belonging to New Zealand. 99 square miles (256 square kilometers).

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Cook Islands British  

plural noun

1. a group of islands in the SW Pacific, an overseas territory of New Zealand: consists of the Lower Cooks and the Northern Cooks Capital: Avarua, on Rarotonga. Pop: 10 447 (2013 est). Area: 234 sq km (90 sq miles)

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Etymology

Origin of Cook Islands

First recorded in 1875–80 as Cook's Islands; named after Captain James Cook

Example Sentences

Pasifika heritage encompasses the indigenous peoples of Polynesia, Melanesia and Micronesia, with Upper Hutt-born Rennie having Cook Islands links through his mother.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

Moana Minerals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Houston-based Ocean Minerals, recently pitched Cook Islands mining to the U.S.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 27, 2025

Places such as the Cook Islands are doing everything they can to play the two sides off against one another.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 27, 2025

The self-governing Cook Islands remain in "free association" with former colonial ruler New Zealand, which is still involved in areas such as defence and foreign affairs.

From Barron's • Dec. 2, 2025

The best of all the fellows on this beach, however, were the Raratongas from the Cook Islands, the islands from which the Maoris originally came.

From How Jerusalem Was Won Being the Record of Allenby's Campaign in Palestine by Massey, William Thomas