Polynesian

[pol-uh-nee-zhuhn, -shuhn]

adjective

1. of or relating to Polynesia, its inhabitants, or their languages.

noun

1. a member of any of a number of peoples originating from and inhabiting Polynesia, and speaking closely related Austronesian languages.

2. the easternmost group of Austronesian languages, including Maori, Tahitian, Samoan, Hawaiian, and the language of Easter Island.

Polynesian

/ ˌpɒlɪˈniːʒən, -ʒɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Polynesia, its people, or any of their languages

noun

1. a member of the people that inhabit Polynesia, generally of Caucasoid features with light skin and wavy hair

2. a branch of the Malayo-Polynesian family of languages, including Māori and Hawaiian and a number of other closely related languages of the S and central Pacific

Word History and Origins

Origin of Polynesian¹

First recorded in 1805–15; Polynesi(a) + -an

Example Sentences

His last film was the willfully obtuse 2022 French Polynesian political thriller “Pacifiction,” which more often oozed colonial malaise through its painterly landscapes than any narrative.

From Los Angeles Times

What a terrific story by Gary Klein on Rams receiver Puka Nacua, with a good history of Polynesian players in the NFL!

From Los Angeles Times

In those days, Sapolu said a dearth of Polynesian players in the NFL led him to study the schedule each year and identify the teams that included Polynesians.

From Los Angeles Times

The original “Moana,” which was inspired by Polynesian mythology, earned the mantle of most streamed movie on Disney+.

From Los Angeles Times

With rising sea levels, the ocean - or Moana, as it's called in Māori and many other Polynesian languages - remains their greatest threat, but it is also their biggest provider.

From BBC