adjective
noun
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a native or inhabitant of Melanesia: generally Negroid with frizzy hair and small stature
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a group or branch of languages spoken in Melanesia, belonging to the Malayo-Polynesian family
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See also Neo-Melanesian
Etymology
Origin of Melanesian
First recorded in 1840–50; Melanesi(a) + -an
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Melanesian Spearhead Group was formed four decades ago to push for independence for indigenous Melanesian groups, and its new headquarters in Vanuatu was funded by China.
From Reuters ● Aug. 22, 2023
Vanuatu has long supported the independence movement in the Indonesian province of West Papua, where much of the population is Melanesian.
From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2022
In Melanesian culture, a wide-eyed gasping face is a symbol of aggression, not fear.
From Scientific American ● Apr. 27, 2022
Wale and other lawmakers spoke at length, using a mixture of English, the official language, and the commonly spoken Melanesian pidgin.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 5, 2021
The Papuan languages are entirely distinct from the Melanesian.
From Man, Past and Present by Alfred Court Haddon
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
