Melanesian

noun

Mel·​a·​ne·​sian ˌme-lə-ˈnē-zhən How to pronounce Melanesian (audio)
-shən
1
: a member of the dominant native group of Melanesia
2
: a language group consisting of the Austronesian languages of Melanesia
Melanesian adjective

Examples of Melanesian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Set in the warm waters of the southwest Pacific, some 1,500 km (930 miles) east of Australia, New Caledonia is home to 270,000 people, including 41% Melanesian Kanaks and 24% of European origin, mostly French. Gabriel Stargardter, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 May 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Melanesian.' 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

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Melanesian was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near Melanesian

Cite this Entry

“Melanesian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Melanesian. Accessed 1 Jun. 2024.

Kids Definition

Melanesian

noun
Mel·​a·​ne·​sian ˌmel-ə-ˈnē-zhən How to pronounce Melanesian (audio)
-shən
: a member of the most numerous Indigenous group of Melanesia
Melanesian adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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