Pacific Islander
Americannoun
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a member or descendant of the Indigenous people of the Pacific Islands.
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(loosely) a native or inhabitant of the Pacific islands.
Etymology
Origin of Pacific Islander
First recorded in 1795–1800
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.
Prosecutors said the company had a 20% partner who’s a Pacific Islander, and the men pretended he’d attained majority ownership and managerial control.
From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 16, 2025
And the league's attempt to turn this into a lucrative spectator sport contradicts the values of many in the Pacific Islander community, Penaia says.
From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025
It is a supercharged version of a one-on-one tackle game which originated in the backyards and school playgrounds of Australia and New Zealand - namely in Pacific Islander communities.
From BBC • Jun. 27, 2025
Compton High’s 1,600-person student body is 84% Latino, 15% Black and 1% Pacific Islander.
From Los Angeles Times • May 23, 2025
She looked like a miniature Pacific Islander with dragonfly wings across her back as well as tiny wings on her ankles.
From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull
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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.