Micronesia
Americannoun
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one of the three principal divisions of Oceania, comprising the small Pacific islands north of the equator and east of the Philippines, whose main groups are the Mariana Islands, the Caroline Islands, and the Marshall Islands.
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Federated States of Micronesia, a group of islands in the western Pacific, in the Caroline Islands, comprising the islands of Pohnpei, Truk, Yap, and Kosrae: formerly a part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and now a self-governing area associated with the United States. 271 square miles (701 square kilometers).
noun
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one of the three divisions of islands in the Pacific (the others being Melanesia and Polynesia); the NW division of Oceania: includes the Mariana, Caroline, Marshall, and Kiribati island groups, and Nauru Island
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an island group in the W Pacific, formerly within the United States Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands: comprises the islands of Truk, Yap, Ponape, and Kosrae: formed in 1979 when the islands became self-governing: status of free association with the US from 1982. Languages: English and Micronesian languages. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: US dollar. Capital: Palikir. Pop: 106 104 (2013 est)
Etymology
Origin of Micronesia
C19: from micro- + Greek nēsos island; so called from the small size of many of the islands; on the model of Polynesia
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 compacts of free association with the Marshall Islands, Micronesia and Palau were negotiated to resolve a specific historical reality.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 25, 2026
"Coconuts and coconut trees are deeply woven into the lives and livelihoods of Pacific peoples and communities, symbolizing resilience, and sustenance" said Elizabeth Terk, Micronesia conservation director for The Nature Conservancy.
From Science Daily • Dec. 4, 2024
In all, China operates at least 249 flagged-in vessels, including ones that fish off the coasts of Micronesia, Kenya, Ghana, Senegal, Morocco and Iran.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2024
New Zealand and the US have similar pacts with a handful of other Pacific nations such as Palau, the Federated States of Micronesia and the Cook Islands.
From BBC • Nov. 10, 2023
They belong to what is sometimes known as Micronesia, from the extreme diminutiveness of the land masses.
From Our War with Spain for Cuba's Freedom by White, Trumbull
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.
