tiki

American  

[tee-kee] / ˈti ki /

noun

1. (initial capital letter) (in Polynesian mythology) the first man on earth.

2. (in Polynesian cultures) a carved image, as of a god or ancestor, sometimes worn as a pendant around the neck.

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tiki British  

/ ˈtiːkɪ /

noun

1. an amulet or figurine in the form of a carved representation of an ancestor, worn in some Māori cultures

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verb

1. (intr) to take a scenic tour around an area

Etymology

Origin of tiki

1875–80; < Maori and Marquesan

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Explanation

A tiki is a large Polynesian carving of a human-like figure. It's very common to see tiki imagery in Hawaii, in locations ranging from sacred sites to tourist hotels. The word tiki means "image" in Eastern Polynesian, and these impressive stone or wooden carvings originally represented the first man in Māori mythology, Tiki. In New Zealand, Tahiti, and Hawaii, tiki are usually huge, towering statues, but small versions are sometimes worn as pendants. The visual style of tiki inspired 20th-century American tiki culture, which included South Pacific-themed bars and restaurants and was criticized for appropriating elements of indigenous Polynesian culture.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

tiki

The property includes a landscaped front yard with a waterfall and a tiki hut-style pavilion that is used as a gym or for yoga, according to listing agent Chris Cortazzo of Compass.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026

The authority also approved rideshare trips to private residences, Planet Fitness gyms in Sacramento, a tiki bar, a sushi restaurant in Denver and a cigar lounge in Washington, D.C., without a business purpose explanation.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 17, 2026

Disney’s connection to tiki remains strong but there’s a little-known story about how it nearly disappeared.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 31, 2026

“I ran into a tiki bar one time. That wasn’t too good,” said Derrick Hoy, 55, who fishes scallops in the Atlantic on a different vessel from Crusher, the 30-foot boat he competes with.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

I could see the pirates running down the stairs, waving tiki torches and sticks of celery.

From "The Sea of Monsters" by Rick Riordan

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