Maori
noun
Mao·ri
ˈmau̇(-ə)r-ē 
plural Maori or Maoris
1
: a member of a Polynesian people native to New Zealand
2
: the Polynesian language of the Maori people
Examples of Maori in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Maori iwi leaders, including the Te Pou Tupua, or the human spokespersons for the Whanganui came to Phoenix to meet with Arizona tribal leaders in 2023 to continue the intertribal dialog on how best to protect and preserve water and the waterways that rivers sustain.
—
Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The haka is a ceremonial Maori chanting dance of defiance that is a cherished cultural symbol of New Zealand.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 14 Sep. 2025
As Simeon and Tupe engaged in soothing effleurage and loudly vigorous tapotement, respectively, six Maori women surrounded their tables and sang folk songs in harmony, guided by an elder in the audience with a long, gnarled cane.
—Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
New Zealand, then known as the Gal Blacks, had been granted permission from Maori elders to perform the haka, the ceremonial war dance that features chanting, stamping and facial gestures such as pukana (bulging eyes) and whetero (sticking out the tongue).
—Peter Carline, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Maori
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Shaun McKinnon, AZCentral.com, 14 Oct. 2025
The haka is a ceremonial Maori chanting dance of defiance that is a cherished cultural symbol of New Zealand.
—Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 14 Sep. 2025
As Simeon and Tupe engaged in soothing effleurage and loudly vigorous tapotement, respectively, six Maori women surrounded their tables and sang folk songs in harmony, guided by an elder in the audience with a long, gnarled cane.
—Sarah Larson, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
New Zealand, then known as the Gal Blacks, had been granted permission from Maori elders to perform the haka, the ceremonial war dance that features chanting, stamping and facial gestures such as pukana (bulging eyes) and whetero (sticking out the tongue).
—Peter Carline, New York Times, 21 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Maori
Cite this Entry
“Maori.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Maori. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Maori
noun
Mao·ri
ˈmau̇(ə)r-ē
plural Maori or Maoris
1
: a member of an Indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand
2
: the language of the Maori
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share