kiwi

noun ki·wi \ ˈkē-(ˌ)wē \

Updated on: 22 Apr 2018

Definition of kiwi

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

See kiwi defined for English-language learners

See kiwi defined for kids

Recent Examples of kiwi from the Web

Traditional flavors include: coco, guava, cajeta, tamarindo, kiwi, strawberry, mango and pineapple.

— courtney dabney, star-telegram, "La Antojeria Jalisco: Street-style Mexican favorites with Jalisco flavor | Fort Worth Star-Telegram," 18 Apr. 2018
There were purple eggplants, guavas, little kiwis like old men’s heads, kumquats, and string beans.

— aaron gilbreath, Longreads, "The Nighthawks of the Giant," 16 Apr. 2018
Saturday Skin’s essence mist is a concentrated blend of hyaluronic acid, kiwi and grape extracts, and rejuvenating peptides that all work together to hydrate skin and leave skin with a dewy finish.

— shannon barbour, The Cut, "10 Products to Shop During Sephora’s Annual Sale," 16 Apr. 2018
Avocados lead 2018's clean fruits and veggies list, followed by sweet corn, pineapples, cabbage, onions, frozen sweet peas, papayas, asparagus, mangoes, eggplant, honeydew melon, kiwi, cantaloupe, cauliflower and broccoli.

— susan scutti, CNN, "Strawberries again top 2018's 'Dirty Dozen' fruits and veggies," 10 Apr. 2018
Pitaya bowls, made of granola, pitaya purée, and an assortment of mango, kiwi, pineapple, coconut, and a drizzle of honey, are priced at $6.95, $9.50 and $14.95, respectively.

— michael klein, Philly.com, "Free açaí bowls at new SoBol in Rittenhouse," 8 Apr. 2018
The latest flavor in the lineup is Cryptokiwi, which has cucumber and kiwi in addition to organic agave nectar, lemon juice and electrolytes.

— kavita daswani, latimes.com, "Heading to Coachella? Here are some packing tips," 7 Apr. 2018
In summertime, palates shift to kiwi pear Sauvignon Blanc and Moscato.

— marc bona, cleveland.com, "Lina Wines emphasizes sweet wine, set to expand to Slavic Village (video)," 24 Jan. 2018
For non-wine drinkers, these polyphenols are found in drinks like coffee, green and black tea, orange juice, and lemon juice, along with fruits like blueberries, raspberries, cherries, and kiwi.

— Sunset, "Can Your Favorite Red Wine Help Your Pearly Whites?," 22 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kiwi.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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.

Illustration of kiwi

Origin and Etymology of kiwi

Maori

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1835

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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KIWI Defined for English Language Learners

kiwi

noun

Definition of kiwi for English Language Learners

Kiwi : a person who lives in or is from New Zealand
: a bird from New Zealand that cannot fly and that has a long bill

KIWI Defined for Kids

kiwi

noun ki·wi \ ˈkē-wē \

Definition of kiwi for Students

1 : a grayish brown bird of New Zealand that is unable to fly

2 : kiwifruit

Learn More about kiwi

See words that rhyme with kiwi Spanish Central: Translation of kiwi Nglish: Translation of kiwi for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of kiwi for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kiwi

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