French Polynesia

American  

[french pol-uh--nee-zhuh, pol-uh-nee-shuh] / ˈfrɛntʃ ˌpɒl ə ˈni ʒə, ˌpɒl əˈni ʃə /

noun

1. a French overseas territory in the southern Pacific, including the Society Islands, Marquesas Islands, and other scattered island groups. 1,544 sq. mi. (4,000 sq. km). Papeete.

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French Polynesia British  

noun

1. Former name (until 1958): French Oceania.  a French Overseas Country (formerly Territory) in the S Pacific Ocean, including the Society Islands, the Tuamotu group, the Gambier group, the Tubuai Islands, and the Marquesas Islands. Capital: Papeete, on Tahiti. Pop: 277 293 (2013 est). Area: about 4000 sq km (1500 sq miles)

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

French Polynesia

In September 2024, China carried out its first intercontinental ballistic missile test in decades, launching a dummy warhead from Hainan island in southern China into waters near French Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026

Like the Florida storyline, the French Polynesia study is about going back, trying to relocate a spectacular example and finding out what it means for the resurgence of sharks in general.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 2, 2026

French Polynesia said passengers on the same flight as the woman from San Francisco to Tahiti were not considered close contacts and "the risk of infection is considered very low".

From BBC ● May 13, 2026

France's high commissioner for French Polynesia said a "30-metre-high" landslide swept one house away, sending it crashing into a second.

From Barron's ● Nov. 27, 2025

French Polynesia:   The French annexed various Polynesian island   groups during the 19th century.

From The 2001 CIA World Factbook by United States. Central Intelligence Agency