Polynesian

American  

[pol-uh-nee-zhuhn, -shuhn] / ˌpɒl əˈni ʒən, -ʃən /

adjective

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

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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 British  

/ ˌpɒlɪˈniːʒən, -ʒɪən /

adjective

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

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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

Etymology

Origin of Polynesian

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

Compare meaning

How does polynesian compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Polynesian vs. Hawaiian

Example Sentences

Adam Pretty: I took this picture at the relatively new Surftown wave pool in Munich, where some elite French Polynesian surfers had booked private training sessions.

From BBC

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

He aims to show that opportunity exists beyond “the trenches” for aspiring Polynesian athletes.

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