Samoa

American  

[suh-moh-uh] / səˈmoʊ ə /

noun

1. a group of islands in the southern Pacific, the islands west of 170° W longitude constituting an independent state and the rest belonging to the U.S.

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Samoa British  

/ səˈməʊə /

noun

1. an independent state occupying four inhabited islands and five uninhabited islands in the S Pacific archipelago of the Samoa Islands: established as a League of Nations mandate under New Zealand administration in 1920 and a UN trusteeship in 1946; gained independence as Western Samoa in 1962 as the first fully independent Polynesian state; officially changed its name to Samoa in 1997; a member of the Commonwealth. Languages: Samoan and English. Religion: Christian. Currency: tala. Capital: Apia. Pop: 195 476 (2013 est). Area: 2841 sq km (1097 sq miles)

2. Also called: Samoa Islands. a group of islands in the S Pacific, northeast of Fiji: an independent kingdom until the mid 19th century, when it was divided administratively into American Samoa (in the east) and German Samoa (in the west); the latter was mandated to New Zealand in 1919 and gained full independence in 1962 as Western Samoa, now called Samoa (as detailed in sense 1). Area: 3038 sq km (1173 sq miles)

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Samoa Cultural  

1. A group of volcanic (see volcano) islands in the south Pacific Ocean, approximately midway between Hawaii and Sydney, Australia, making up the independent kingdom of Western Samoa and the United States territory of American Samoa.

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Discover More

Samoa's tropical climate, mountainous scenery, coral reefs, and Polynesian culture make it a popular tourist destination.

Compare meaning

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

• Samoa vs. American Samoa

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Samoa

Even then, there is the strong possibility that England will not know their fate for certain until two days later, when Tonga face 2022 finalists Samoa in their last group game.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026

"MMA recognizes the ocean floor surrounding American Samoa carries cultural, economic, and environmental significance, requiring that the pursuit of national security and energy readiness is balanced with rigorous environmental stewardship," he added.

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

American Samoa banned deep-sea mining in its territorial waters in 2024, but the auction concerns the federally controlled Outer Continental Shelf beyond that limit.

From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026

And there is the strong possibility that England will not know their fate for certain until two days later, when Tonga face 2022 finalists Samoa in their last group game.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2026

Specialization increased on larger, more densely populated islands, reaching a peak on Samoa, the Societies, and especially Tonga and Hawaii.

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

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