Malayan

1 of 2

noun

Ma·​lay·​an məˈlāən How to pronounce Malayan (audio)
(ˈ)mā¦l- sometimes -āyən
plural -s
1
: a native or inhabitant of Malaya
2
: deutero-malay

Malayan

2 of 2

adjective

"
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the Malays
2
: of, relating to, or constituting the subdivision of the biogeographic Oriental region that includes the Malay peninsula, the Philippines, and the Indo-Malayan archipelago to Wallace's line

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Malay entry 1 + English -an, noun suffix

Adjective

Malay entry 1 + English -an, adjective suffix

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Cite this Entry

“Malayan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Malayan. Accessed 16 Dec. 2025.

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