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.

---

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

The meeting has been billed as a chance to show how climate change is battering the South Pacific.

From Barron's • Jun. 5, 2026

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

In January 2022, the underwater volcano Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha'apai in the South Pacific produced one of the most powerful eruptions in modern history.

From Science Daily • May 10, 2026

While stopping in the South Pacific, Brown directed Captain Bratash to two other points, “so nobody could say ‘you haven’t been there.’”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

“I’m going to the movies with Nora. We’re going to see South Pacific downtown and out for ice cream afterward.”

From "The Lions of Little Rock" by Kristin Levine