Society Islands
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.


So·ci·e·ty Islands

geographical name \sə-ˈsī-ə-tē\

Definition of SOCIETY ISLANDS

islands S. Pacific belonging to France Papeete (on Tahiti) area 621 square miles (1608 square kilometers), pop 162,573

Variants of SOCIETY ISLANDS

So·ci·e·ty Islands or French Îles de la So·cié·té \ˌēl-də-lä-s-syā-ˈtā\

Society Islands

   (Concise Encyclopedia)

Archipelago (pop., 2002: 214,445), western French Polynesia, South Pacific Ocean. Its chief island is Tahiti. The Society Islands comprise two groups, the Windward Islands and the Leeward Islands. They are volcanic in origin and mountainous. Claimed for Britain in 1767, the islands were visited in 1769 by Capt. James Cook with a scientific expedition of the Royal Society (hence their name). They were claimed by France in 1786 and became a French protectorate in 1842, a French colony in 1881, and a part of French Oceania in 1903. Their chief products are copra and pearls.

Browse

Next Word in the Dictionary: Socorro
Previous Word in the Dictionary: Sochi

Seen & Heard

What made you want to look up Society Islands? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Name That Thing

Take Our 10-Question Quiz

Get Our Free Apps
Voice Search, Favorites,
Word of the Day, and More
Join Us on FB & Twitter
Get the Word of the Day and More