South Pacific

American  

[south puh-sif-ik] / ˈsaʊθ pəˈsɪf ɪk /

noun

1. the region of the world that lies in the Southern Hemisphere of the Pacific Ocean, including all the coastal countries, islands, and archipelagos located there.

   expanding their commercial interests in the South Pacific.

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adjective

1. of or relating to the region of the world that lies in the Southern Hemisphere of the Pacific Ocean, often specifically to the South Pacific Ocean itself.

   studying the South Pacific trenches.

Etymology

Origin of South Pacific

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Located in the South Pacific roughly halfway between New Zealand and Peru, the islands are one of the most remote and sparsely populated places on Earth.

From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026

On the even of the conflict in Iran, the South Pacific economy had faced uneven growth, high spare capacity and elevated unemployment.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

"If there is safe passage, what are the terms and the conditions for such safe passage?" the South Pacific islands' delegate asked.

From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026

Southern Command is also responsible for parts of the South Atlantic and the South Pacific.

From BBC • Feb. 12, 2026

“Look here,” he said, “while our boy Ned has been up in shady Honolulu we’ve been down here in the sunny South Pacific working on our tans.”

From "Code Talker: A Novel About the Navajo Marines of World War Two" by Joseph Bruchac