a member of the Native Polynesian population of New Zealand.
a Polynesian language, the language of the Maoris.
a member of the people living in New Zealand and the Cook Islands since before the arrival of European settlers. They are descended from Polynesian voyagers who migrated in successive waves from the ninth century onwards
the language of this people, belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian family
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Prime Minister Christopher Luxon feted his guest with an indigenous Maori welcome and guard of honour, seeking to expand relations after signing a free-trade pact in April that he has touted as an economic boon.
From Barron's ● Jul. 11, 2026
Keri Hulme shapes her novel out of all three of their voices, a kind of collective poetry of Maori and Celtic mythology.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 6, 2026
As was the case six years ago, the response to the traditional Maori challenge was the prelude to a memorable win -- just England's ninth in 47 Tests against the All Blacks spanning 120 years.
From Barron's ● Nov. 16, 2025
That means Warriors centre Stafford McDowall will captain the side having done so against New Zealand Maori in the summer and Portugal last November.
From BBC ● Oct. 30, 2025
Billy and the Maori dug into the inert, unpromising gravel of the moon.
From "Slaughterhouse-Five" by Kurt Vonnegut
Earlier this week, the Māori queen was also welcomed by Prince William to Windsor Castle.
From BBC ● May 15, 2026
But as Te Haumihiata Mason, a translator working in Māori, points out to Mr. Hahn, in New Zealand few plants bud in May, so an inelastic approach here risks puzzling the audience.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 22, 2026
The sacred Māori site is a popular tourist attraction, though it has seen several landslides in recent years.
From BBC ● Jan. 22, 2026
New Zealand artist Lisa Reihana, who is of Māori British ancestry, transformed a famous early 19th century French scenic wallpaper designed by Jean-Gabriel Charvet into an equally extravagant, 70-foot-wide projection of video animation.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2025
Do all Māori want the moa to return?
From Slate ● Aug. 8, 2025
The advice is not limited to fans, with tattoos common among players, especially Pacific Islanders and Maoris.
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2019
At the start of each game, the players do a version of the “haka,” an indigenous dance of the Maoris.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 7, 2018
The multivenue show includes art from Japan, the Pacific islands, Maoris and local artists — as well as a few requisite stars, like Yayoi Kusama.
From New York Times ● Sep. 16, 2016
Besides the prominence of the Union Jack, many criticise their flag for making no nod to indigenous Maoris.
From Economist ● Oct. 30, 2014
North American Plains Indians, South American Araucanian Indians, New Zealand’s Maoris, and Ethiopians acquired guns and used them to hold off European conquest for a long time, though they were ultimately defeated.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
