kiwi

kiwi — noun

1. an oval fruit, roughly as big as a large egg. Its thin brown skin is fuzzy to th

1.nounA2
Definition

an oval fruit, roughly as big as a large egg. Its thin brown skin is fuzzy to the touch, and the inside is vivid green with a ring of tiny black seeds. The taste is both sweet and a little tangy.

Example

Lan sliced a ripe kiwi into her morning bowl of yogurt and granola.

prep. 'into [dish]' for adding kiwi to food

Eleni peeled the kiwi before eating it because she did not like the fuzzy skin.

collocation: fuzzy skin / peel a kiwi

Common collocations
  • ripe kiwi
  • kiwi slices
  • kiwi skin
  • peel a kiwi
  • golden kiwi
  • green kiwi
Synonyms
  • kiwi fruit

    fuller name, used especially in formal or commercial contexts

  • kiwifruit

    originally a brand name, now the standard term on packaging and in grocery stores

Grammar Patterns

a kiwi

kiwis (plural)

Usage Note

Also called 'kiwi fruit' or 'kiwifruit'. The skin is edible but many people prefer to peel it because of the fuzzy texture.

Common Mistakes

I bought two kiwifruits for dessert.
I bought two kiwis for dessert.
Both 'kiwi' and 'kiwifruit' are correct, but 'kiwi' is more common in everyday speech.
The kiwi vine grows in my garden.' (when referring to the plant)
The kiwi plant grows in my garden.
The plant itself is called a 'kiwi vine' or 'kiwi plant', but the fruit on it is simply 'kiwi'.

2. a flightless bird that lives in New Zealand, roughly the size of a chicken. It h

2.nounB1
Definition

a flightless bird that lives in New Zealand, roughly the size of a chicken. It has a very long narrow beak, tiny wings that are hard to see, and grey-brown feathers that look like hair. New Zealanders consider this bird their national emblem, and it comes out at night to feed.

Example

The kiwi uses its long beak to probe the forest floor for insects and worms.

collocation: long beak; purpose clause 'to probe…'

Arjun learned that kiwis are nocturnal birds that come out only after dark.

Common collocations
  • kiwi population
  • kiwi conservation
  • kiwi habitat
  • native kiwi
  • kiwi sanctuary
  • kiwi chick
Synonyms
  • apteryx

    scientific genus name, used in biology contexts only

Grammar Patterns

a kiwi

kiwis (plural)

the kiwi (the species)

Usage Note

The kiwi is a national icon of New Zealand. New Zealanders often call themselves 'Kiwis' after this bird (see sense 3). The scientific name for the bird is Apteryx, but this is rarely used outside zoology.

Common Mistakes

A kiwi lives in the trees and flies south for winter.
A kiwi lives on the forest floor and cannot fly.
The kiwi is a flightless, ground-dwelling bird.

3. an informal way to describe someone who comes from New Zealand. It has a friendl

3.nounB1
Definition

an informal way to describe someone who comes from New Zealand. It has a friendly and positive tone, and many New Zealanders use this word to talk about themselves.

Example

Nellie is a proud Kiwi who always brings back local treats from her overseas trips.

collocation: proud Kiwi

The tour guide explained that many Kiwis live abroad but stay connected to their homeland.

Common collocations
  • proud Kiwi
  • fellow Kiwi
  • true Kiwi
  • Kiwi spirit
  • Kiwis abroad
Synonyms
  • New Zealander

    the standard, neutral term used in all contexts including formal writing

  • NZer

    informal abbreviation, used in writing but not common in speech

Grammar Patterns

a Kiwi

Kiwis (plural)

Usage Note

Informal term — 'New Zealander' is the neutral, official term suitable for all registers. 'Kiwi' is broadly acceptable in everyday conversation and writing within New Zealand, but may be unfamiliar to some international audiences. Often capitalised when referring to a person (Kiwi) to distinguish it from the fruit or bird senses.

Common Mistakes

She is a kiwi from Auckland.' (when meaning the person)
She is a Kiwi from Auckland.
When referring to a New Zealander, the word is usually capitalised to avoid confusion with the fruit.

kiwi — adjective

Word family

  • kiwifruit
    nounB1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

All three terms refer to a person from New Zealand, but they differ in register and formality. 'New Zealander' is the neutral, official demonym used in passports, legal documents, and formal writing — it is appropriate in any context and internationally recognised. 'Kiwi' is an informal but warm and widely accepted nickname that New Zealanders commonly use for themselves and that visitors may use in casual conversation. It appears frequently in news headlines and everyday speech but is less formal than 'New Zealander'. 'NZer' is a written abbreviation, mostly seen in online forums, social media, and informal notes; it is rarely spoken aloud. In practice, many New Zealanders call themselves 'Kiwis' most of the time and switch to 'New Zealander' only in formal settings. For example: 'She is a proud Kiwi who supports the All Blacks.' sounds natural and positive, while 'She is a New Zealander who supports the All Blacks.' is more neutral and formal.

Kiwi ↗New ZealanderNZer

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • from New Zealand

Etymology

MāoriEnglish

The word 'kiwi' comes from the Māori language of New Zealand, where it originally referred to the flightless bird (Apteryx). The name is believed to imitate the bird's call ('kee-wee'). New Zealand soldiers were nicknamed 'Kiwis' during the First World War, and over time the term spread to refer to all New Zealanders. The fruit now known as 'kiwi' was originally called the 'Chinese gooseberry' — it was renamed 'kiwifruit' by New Zealand exporters in the 1950s as a marketing strategy, drawing on the kiwi bird as a national symbol, and later shortened to simply 'kiwi'.