Indo-Pacific

American  

[in-doh-puh-sif-ik] / ˈɪn doʊ pəˈsɪf ɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to the areas of the Indian and Pacific Oceans off the coast of southeast Asia.

---

noun

1. a proposed linguistic family including all the non-Austronesian languages of the Pacific peoples.

Indo-Pacific British  

adjective

1. of or relating to the region of the Indian and W Pacific Oceans off the coast of SE Asia

---

noun

1. a hypothetical family of languages relating the languages of New Guinea other than Malayo-Polynesian. Tentative affiliations with Malayo-Polynesian or Australian languages have been suggested

Etymology

Origin of Indo-Pacific

First recorded in 1875–80

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Indo-Pacific

India is on track to become the world’s third-largest economy, is indispensable to the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific, and is increasingly consequential in a restive Middle East.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 7, 2026

Professor Chown also said Australia is in a strong position to work with Indo-Pacific partners and help turn the findings into practical adaptation strategies.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 23, 2026

The Coast Guard already bases ships in Guam and Hawaii, including what it calls an Indo-Pacific support cutter.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 15, 2026

"This vision of trading equipment and assets throughout the Indo-Pacific is something we have never seen before."

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

The explanation of this complete separation of the South-eastern marine fauna of Australia from that of the North-eastern or Indo-Pacific portion, may be explained by reference to the distribution of currents along the Australian shores.

From Narrative of the Voyage of H.M.S. Rattlesnake, Commanded By the Late Captain Owen Stanley, R.N., F.R.S. Etc. During the Years 1846-1850. Including Discoveries and Surveys in New Guinea, the Louisiade Archipelago, Etc. to Which Is Added the Account of Mr. E.B. Kennedy's Expedition for the Exploration of the Cape York Peninsula. By John Macgillivray, F.R.G.S. Naturalist to the Expedition. — Volume 2 by John MacGillivray