Malaya

American  

[muh-ley-uh] / məˈleɪ ə /

noun

1. Malay Peninsula.

2. Formerly Malayan Union.  Formerly Malay States,.  Federation of Malaya. a former federation of 11 states in the southern part of the Malay Peninsula: a British protectorate 1948–57; now forms part of Malaysia. 50,690 sq. mi. (131,287 sq. km). Kuala Lumpur.

---

Malaya British  

/ məˈleɪə /

noun

1. part of Malaysia, in the S Malay Peninsula, constituting Peninsular Malaysia: consists of the former Federated Malay States, the former Unfederated Malay States, and the former Straits Settlements. Capital: Kuala Lumpur. Pop: 17 144 322 (2000). Area: 131 587 sq km (50 806 sq miles)

2. a federation of the nine Malay States of the Malay Peninsula and two of the Straits Settlements (Malacca and Penang): formed in 1948: became part of the British Commonwealth in 1957 and joined Malaysia in 1963

---

Example Sentences

In 1926 Mr. Massie’s father, then 19, left his family’s farm in Aberdeenshire for British Malaya.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 5, 2025

When senior Malaya Galindez, 21, who aspires to be a physician and is majoring in health and human sciences, told her parents that she intended to minor in comedy, her father was surprised.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 25, 2025

“They’re preventing us from getting into the lagoon,” Malaya said.

From Seattle Times • May 20, 2024

Nine-year-old Olga Morris and her family lived in Malaya before the Japanese invasion and though they tried to make their escape by ship, they were captured in Singapore and interned in Changi camp.

From BBC • Feb. 3, 2024

He was just about to tell her, “I’m thinking of Malaya of the Crocodiles, because there’s a girl at school named Valencia who reminds me of her,” when the strangest thing happened: Valencia appeared.

From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly