haole

noun

hao·​le ˈhau̇-lē How to pronounce haole (audio)
-(ˌ)lā
Hawaii, sometimes disparaging + offensive
: one who is not descended from the aboriginal Polynesian inhabitants of Hawaii
especially : white

Examples of haole in a Sentence

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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.
The haole—the white incomers—dodged blame from among Hawaiians for leprosy too. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Hawaiian

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of haole was in 1834

Rhymes for haole

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Browse Nearby Words

hao
haole
haoma
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Cite this Entry

“Haole.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/haole. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

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