polynesia
polynesia — noun
1. the broad island area in the middle Pacific, especially when people talk about i
the broad island area in the middle Pacific, especially when people talk about its countries, cultures, and peoples together.
Many school maps color Polynesia differently from Melanesia and Micronesia.
contrast with nearby Pacific regions
Lina studied traditional dance from several islands in Polynesia.
pattern: islands in Polynesia
The museum opened a show on tattoo art in Polynesia.
Our teacher said Hawaii is part of Polynesia, not Asia.
pattern: part of Polynesia
Warm seas connect many island communities across Polynesia.
- culture of Polynesia
- people of Polynesia
- travel across Polynesia
- islands in Polynesia
- the Polynesian region
a descriptive phrase that stresses the area as a whole
- eastern Oceania
a broader and more formal geography label, not an exact everyday equivalent
Grammar Patterns
used as the name of a Pacific region
part of Polynesia
in Polynesia
Usage Note
Usually written without 'the' and often used with words about culture, people, travel, or location. Distinguish from the geographical name sense: this noun treats Polynesia as a region, not mainly as an island chain on a map.
Common Mistakes
polynesia — geographical name
1. the spread of islands across the mid and south Pacific, used as a map name for p
the spread of islands across the mid and south Pacific, used as a map name for places such as Hawaii, Samoa, Tonga, and Easter Island.
On the wall map, Polynesia stretches from Hawaii to Easter Island.
map description: Polynesia stretches from ... to ...
The guidebook lists Samoa and Tonga among the islands of Polynesia.
collocation: the islands of Polynesia
Ancient sailors crossed Polynesia in canoes long before modern engines.
Easter Island is often described as the eastern edge of Polynesia.
pattern: the edge of Polynesia
A red line on the chart marked the western side of Polynesia.
- the islands of Polynesia
- map of Polynesia
- edge of Polynesia
- cross Polynesia
- the Polynesian islands
a descriptive phrase focusing on the islands themselves
- the islands of Polynesia
plain wording common in textbooks, maps, and travel writing
Grammar Patterns
used as the name of an island group
the islands of Polynesia
across Polynesia
Usage Note
Common in maps, travel books, and historical writing about sea routes. Distinguish from the noun sense by nearby words such as 'islands', 'map', 'edge', or 'stretch', which focus on the island group itself.
Common Mistakes
Common collocations
Nouns
- the islands of Polynesia
- the people of Polynesia
- the culture of Polynesia
- map of Polynesia
Phrases
- part of Polynesia
- French Polynesia
Prepositions
- in Polynesia
- across Polynesia
- from Polynesia