kiwi

noun

ki·​wi ˈkē-(ˌ)wē 

1

: any of a small genus (Apteryx) of flightless New Zealand birds with rudimentary wings, stout legs, a long bill, and grayish brown hairlike plumage

2

capitalized : a native or resident of New Zealand

—used as a nickname

3

: kiwifruit

Illustration of kiwi

• kiwi 1

Did you know?

A kiwi is any of three species of chicken-sized, grayish brown flightless birds found in New Zealand. Their Maori name refers to the male's shrill call. Kiwis have vestigial wings hidden within the plumage; nostrils at the tip (rather than the base) of the long flexible bill; soft, hairlike feathers; and stout, muscular legs. Each of the four toes has a large claw. Kiwis live in forests, where they sleep by day and forage for worms, insects and their larvae, and berries at night. They run swiftly and use their claws in defense when cornered.

Examples of kiwi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Fruit Fruits like bananas, papayas, kiwi and mangoes are largely imported. —Erica Gerald Mason, People.com, 19 Apr. 2025

Sinking kiwi cities The combination of high-resolution InSAR data and GeoNet’s GNSS data allowed Kearse and his colleagues to measure vertical land movement between 2018 and 2021 at major urban coastal strips around the country; namely, Auckland, Tauranga, Wellington, Christchurch, and Dunedin. —Laurie Winkless, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025

Serotonin-rich foods include bananas, kiwi, pineapple, plums, and walnuts.20 Melatonin: Regulates the sleep-wake cycle. —Allison Herries, Verywell Health, 14 Apr. 2025

Top foods: Oranges, bell peppers, kiwi, strawberries, broccoli. —Allison Palmer, Miami Herald, 14 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Maori

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

kiwi

noun

ki·​wi ˈkē-(ˌ)wē 

1

: a flightless New Zealand bird with weak and undeveloped wings, stout legs, a long bill, and grayish brown hairlike feathers

2

: kiwifruit