-
- To save this word, you'll need to log in.
Pacific Islander
noun
plural Pacific Islanders
: a native or a descendant of a native of one of the islands of Melanesia, Micronesia, or Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean
Examples of Pacific Islander in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The anonymous program, funded by the state legislature’s Asian American and Pacific Islander equity agenda and the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act grant is also a partnership with California Black Media.
—Emma Hall, Sacramento Bee, 21 May 2024
Average age of parents varies by race Asian women and Pacific Islander women have the highest average age of first-time mothers, compared to all other races, according to CDC data.
—Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 18 May 2024
Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage month offers a chance to reflect on outstanding contributions by individuals like Bùi Tường Phong.
—TIME, 16 May 2024
Advertisement Though many Asian and Pacific Islander ethnic groups have been added to government demographics counts since the 1980s, many communities have yet to be recorded.
—Sandhya Kambhampati, Los Angeles Times, 16 May 2024
The Gold Gala celebrates Asian/Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian excellence in entertainment, sports, business and more.
—Lawrence Yee, Peoplemag, 14 May 2024
The White House has been holding various events to commemorate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.
—CBS News, 13 May 2024
Nineteen-year-old Iam Tongi was the season 21 winner, making history as the first Hawaiian and Pacific Islander to win the competition.
—Grace Tucker, The Enquirer, 13 May 2024
All three students identified as LGBTQ+; one is Black, and another is Pacific Islander.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 May 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Pacific Islander.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1785, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near Pacific Islander
Cite this Entry
“Pacific Islander.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pacific%20Islander. Accessed 29 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
Pacific Islander
noun
: a native or a descendant of a native of Melanesia, Micronesia, or Polynesia in the Pacific Ocean
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share