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definitions

Indonesian

[in-duh-nee-zhuh n, -shuh n, -zee-uh n, -doh-]
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noun

a member of the ethnic group consisting of the natives of Indonesia, the Filipinos, and the Malays of Malaysia.
a member of a population supposed to have been resident in the Malay Archipelago before the Malays, and believed to constitute one element of the present mixed population of Malaysia and perhaps Polynesia.
Official name Bahasa Indonesia. an Indonesian language that is based on the form of Malay spoken in Java and has the status of official language in the Republic of Indonesia.
the westernmost branch of the Austronesian family of languages, including Malay, Indonesian, Tagalog, and Malagasy.

adjective

of or relating to the Malay Archipelago.
of or relating to Indonesia, the Indonesians, or their languages.

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Origin of Indonesian

First recorded in 1840–50; Indonesi(a) + -an
Related formspro-In·do·ne·sian, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for indonesian

Contemporary Examples of indonesian

Historical Examples of indonesian

  • "I'd like to bet on the Indonesian to win," said Lindsay quietly.

    The Ambassador

    Samuel Kimball Merwin

  • The anatomical data likewise prevent us from setting this tribe apart from the others, because of Japanese or Indonesian origin.

    The Tinguian

    Fay-Cooper Cole

  • There Lindsay was able to pull first the Indonesian, then the Irishman, up into the box.

    The Ambassador

    Samuel Kimball Merwin

  • In fact, one meets a great number that seem to come up to the Indonesian standard of Keane.

    The Manbos of Mindano

    John M. Garvan

  • Then the Malays came down from the north and added to the Indonesian mixture a strong Mongolian element.

British Dictionary definitions for indonesian

Indonesian

adjective

of or relating to Indonesia, its people, or their language

noun

a native or inhabitant of Indonesia
another name for Bahasa Indonesia
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for indonesian

Indonesian

1850, from Indonesia, from Indo-, comb. form of Greek Indos "India" (see India) + nesos "island" (see Chersonese). Formerly called Indian Archipelago or East Indies Islands (see Indies).

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper