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New Zealand

American  
[zee-luhnd] / ˈzi lənd /

noun

  1. a country in the South Pacific, southeast of Australia, consisting of North Island, South Island, and adjacent small islands: a member of the Commonwealth of Nations: 103,416 sq. mi. (267,845 sq. km). Wellington.


New Zealand British  
/ ˈziːlənd /

noun

  1. an independent dominion within the Commonwealth, occupying two main islands (the North Island and the South Island), Stewart Island, the Chatham Islands, and a number of minor islands in the SE Pacific: original Māori inhabitants ceded sovereignty to the British government in 1840; became a dominion in 1907; a major world exporter of dairy products, wool, and meat. Official languages: English and Māori. Religion: Christian majority, nonreligious and Māori minorities. Currency: New Zealand dollar. Capital: Wellington. Pop: 4 365 113 (2013 est). Area: 270 534 sq km (104 454 sq miles)

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

New Zealand Cultural  
  1. Nation in the southern Pacific Ocean containing two principal islands — North Island and South Island — and several small outlying islands. Its capital is Wellington, and its largest city is Auckland.


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New Zealand is known for its sheep industry and spectacular scenery.

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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.

See Examples For:

Mohr-Elzeki said his clients from California are also interested in New Zealand, which offers a faster path to residency than many European countries.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 13, 2026

Borthwick's side host Australia, Japan and New Zealand this November in the northern hemisphere leg of the inaugural tournament.

From BBC Aug. 12, 2026

Prof. Mike Steel, from the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, and Prof. Daniel Huson from the University of Tübingen brought expertise in analyzing complex networks to the project.

From Science Daily Aug. 12, 2026

Benavente had "never" had so many foreign tourists, including visitors from Belgium, Britain, Australia, New Zealand, the Netherlands and Germany, she added.

From Barron's Aug. 11, 2026

At Cambridge she came to his rooms once with a New Zealand girl in glasses and someone from her school, when there was a friend of his from Downing there.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan

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