Polynesia

[pol-uh-nee-zhuh, -shuh]

noun

1. one of the three principal divisions of Oceania, comprising those island groups in the Pacific Ocean lying east of Melanesia and Micronesia and extending from the Hawaiian Islands south to New Zealand.

Polynesia

/ -ʒɪə, ˌpɒlɪˈniːʒə /

noun

1. one of the three divisions of islands in the Pacific, the others being Melanesia and Micronesia: includes Samoa, Society, Marquesas, Mangareva, Tuamotu, Cook, and Tubuai Islands, and Tonga

Polynesia

1. Group of islands in the central and southern Pacific Ocean, including the islands of the state of Hawaii and the islands of French Polynesia. Tahiti and Samoa are in Polynesia, which means “many islands.”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Polynesia¹

C18: via French from _poly- + Greek nēsos island

Example Sentences

French Polynesia comprises more than 100 islands, including Tahiti.

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An ambitious novel of exploration and discovery from the author of “The Orphan Master’s Son” is set, centuries ago, among warring communities in Polynesia.

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Adam Johnson’s epic is a story of power, survival, loss and courage, set in the Polynesia of centuries past.

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Both events may be connected to a massive 8.8 magnitude earthquake which hit a similar area last week, which caused tsunami warnings as far away as French Polynesia and Chile.

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The surfing is being held in Tahiti, French Polynesia, and Tueday's sessions have also been postponed, due to adverse weather conditions.

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