Maltese

noun

Mal·​tese mȯl-ˈtēz 

-ˈtēs

plural Maltese

1

: a native or inhabitant of Malta

2

: the Semitic language of the Maltese people

3

: any of a breed of toy dogs with a long silky white coat, a black nose, and very dark eyes

Maltese adjective

Illustration of Maltese

• Maltese 3

Examples of Maltese in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Maltese Version, by Katy Simpson Smith (Farrar, Straus & Giroux). — The New Yorker, New Yorker, 21 Sep. 2026

Halo Pictures, with support from the Maltese Film Commission, is the Maltese service company. — Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 1 Sep. 2026

Halo Pictures, with support from the Maltese Film Commission, are the Maltese service company. — Alex Ritman, Variety, 1 Sep. 2026

The problem is that Kevin is not a trial lawyer and only has his intern niece Paige (Lana Condor) and partners Sal Maltese (Tone Bell) and Dottie Jones (Martha Kelly) to assist him. — ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Maltese

• Maltese cross

Rhymes for Maltese

• agrees
• appease
• bougies
• burmese
• chemise
• chickpeas
• chinese
• cowpeas
• curies
• decrees
• degrees
• disease

Kids Definition

Maltese

noun

Mal·​tese mȯl-ˈtēz 

plural Maltese

1

: a person born or living in Malta

2

: the Semitic language of the Maltese people

3

: any of a breed of toy dogs with a long silky white coat, a black nose, and dark eyes

Maltese adjective