New Caledonia

American  

[kal-i-doh-nee-uh, -dohn-yuh] / ˌkæl ɪˈdoʊ ni ə, -ˈdoʊn yə /

noun

1. an island in the S Pacific, about 800 miles (1,290 km) E of Australia. 6,224 sq. mi. (16,120 sq. km).

2. an overseas territory of France comprising this island and other smaller islands: formerly a penal colony. 131,665; 7,200 sq. mi. (18,650 sq. km). Nouméa.

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New Caledonia British  

noun

1. French name: Nouvelle-Calédonie.  an island in the SW Pacific, east of Australia: forms, with its dependencies, a French Overseas Country; discovered by Captain Cook in 1774; rich mineral resources. Capital: Nouméa. Pop: 264 022 (2013 est). Area: 19 103 sq km (7374 miles)

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Example Sentences

Researchers analyzed nearly 20 years of data from humpback whales that breed in the waters around New Caledonia in the South Pacific.

From Science Daily • Mar. 5, 2026

Also taking part in the inter-confederations play-off are New Caledonia.

From BBC • Dec. 5, 2025

The 64-year-old's resignation leaves Jamaica scrambling to find a head coach before next year's Inter-Confederation play-offs, which will include Iraq, Democratic Republic of Congo, New Caledonia, Bolivia and Suriname.

From Barron's • Nov. 19, 2025

And Bolivia - who finished seventh in South America - are not certain to play a team from Oceania, which would be New Caledonia.

From BBC • Nov. 17, 2025

On the first day of November the Second Division left Wellington, presumably on maneuvers at Hawke Bay again, but ending up instead at Noumea on the French island of New Caledonia.

From "Snow Falling on Cedars: A Novel" by David Guterson