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

Polynesians plural

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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Polynesians
  plural

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

See Examples For:

Polynesian Polynesians

Meanwhile, the French Polynesian government said the woman had transited through without notifying "territorial and national authorities".

From BBC ● May 13, 2026

Inside are nine species of small yellow Polynesian tree snails, including the rarest of the lot, the Garrett's tree snail.

From BBC ● Apr. 28, 2026

One expert on Polynesian history has estimated that between 1862 and 1888—when Easter Island was brought under the jurisdiction of the Chilean navy—“about 94% of the population perished or emigrated.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026

The Seahawks team also boasts several players of Polynesian descent including backup running back George Holani, who was born in New Zealand to Tongan parents but moved to the United States as a young child.

From Barron's ● Feb. 7, 2026

In addition, similar extinctions occurred when human beings first invaded Madagascar, Australia, New Zealand, and the Polynesian Islands.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Many of these changes occurred either before Polynesians arrived in Hawaiʻi or after traditional Indigenous land management practices were disrupted.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 14, 2026

Particularly marvelous are the voyages of the Polynesians who crossed the immense Pacific a thousand years ago in double-hulled canoes.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 17, 2026

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 ● Jun. 19, 2025

In the 13th Century Polynesians brought mice and Pacific rats.

From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2023

Most Polynesians and many Melanesians abandoned the use of bows and arrows in war.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond