Pacific Islands

American  

[puh-sif-ik ahy-luhndz] / pəˈsɪf ɪk ˈaɪ ləndz /

plural noun

1. the islands and island groups of Melanesia, Micronesia, and Polynesia, located in the western and central Pacific Ocean.

2. Usually Pacific islands. (loosely) these islands together with the other islands in the Pacific Ocean, such as the continent of Australia and the Asia-related Indonesian, Philippine, and Japanese islands: Breadfruit is a tree native to the Pacific islands.

   There are spineless forms of prickly pear grown commonly in Australia and some of the other Pacific islands.

   Breadfruit is a tree native to the Pacific islands.

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Pacific Islands British  

plural noun

1. a former Trust Territory; an island group in the W Pacific Ocean, mandated to Japan after World War I and assigned to the US by the United Nations in 1947: comprised 2141 islands (96 inhabited) of the Caroline, Marshall, and Mariana groups (excluding Guam). In 1978 the Northern Marianas became a commonwealth in union with the US. The three remaining entities consisting of the Marshall Islands, the Republic of Palau (or Belau), and the Federated States of Micronesia became self-governing during the period 1979–80. In 1982 they signed agreements of free association with the US. Land area: about 1800 sq km (700 sq miles), scattered over about 7 500 000 sq km (3 000 000 sq miles) of ocean

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Pacific Islands Cultural  

1. Consisting of the Caroline Islands, the Marshall Islands, and the Marianas Islands, covering a vast area of the Pacific Ocean, including more than two thousand islands and islets. Held by the United States under United Nations trusteeship.

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Etymology

Origin of Pacific Islands

First recorded in 1795–1800

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Pacific Islands

"From time to time the Pacific Islands Forum has had issues with people not participating -- everyone is participating at this forum," Albanese said.

From Barron's ● Sep. 1, 2026

"Not having these leaders there really lowers the expectation of whether or not we will see a strong statement come out of the Pacific Islands Forum," he told AFP.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

The project brought together graduate students, undergraduate students, and recent alumni from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, along with collaborators from France and the Pacific Islands Fisheries Science Center's Hawaiian Monk Seal Research Program.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 18, 2025

Fiji are set to play their home matches at neutral grounds, given the logistical difficulties of travel to the Pacific Islands and the ability to maximise revenue at larger grounds elsewhere.

From BBC ● Nov. 17, 2025

This is carried on between the ports on the western coast of North and South America, the Pacific Islands, and the coasts of China, and is very lucrative, but often dangerous.

From Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 62, No. 383, September 1847 by Various