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

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

Both events may be connected to a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake which hit a similar area last week, which caused tsunami warnings as far away as French Polynesia and Chile.

From BBC ● Aug. 3, 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