Maori
noun
Mao·ri
ˈmau̇(-ə)r-ē 
plural Maori or Maoris
1
: a member of a Polynesian people native to New Zealand
2
: the Polynesian language of the Maori people
Examples of Maori in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
For the Maori, for example, in New Zealand, humans are lowest on the totem pole of the natural world, says Meghan Robinson, a Ph.D. student at the University of British Columbia who is completing her doctoral research on the Rights of Nature.
—
India Nye Wenner, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2025
The rare sighting, captured on video off the coast of New Zealand and shared by scientists affiliated with the University of Auckland, shows a Maori octopus riding on top of a mako shark, which is the fastest in the world with the ability to swim up to 46 mph.
—Brie Stimson, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2025
The intrepid rider was a Maori octopus—the largest octopus in the Southern Hemisphere.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
For many, the All Blacks are well-known for performing an intimidating pregame haka dance, a Maori ritual used to fire up the players and fans before a match.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025
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India Nye Wenner, Rolling Stone, 22 Apr. 2025
The rare sighting, captured on video off the coast of New Zealand and shared by scientists affiliated with the University of Auckland, shows a Maori octopus riding on top of a mako shark, which is the fastest in the world with the ability to swim up to 46 mph.
—Brie Stimson, Fox News, 22 Mar. 2025
The intrepid rider was a Maori octopus—the largest octopus in the Southern Hemisphere.
—Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 21 Mar. 2025
For many, the All Blacks are well-known for performing an intimidating pregame haka dance, a Maori ritual used to fire up the players and fans before a match.
—Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 19 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Maori
Cite this Entry
“Maori.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Maori. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Maori
noun
Mao·ri
ˈmau̇(ə)r-ē
plural Maori or Maoris
1
: a member of an Indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand
2
: the language of the Maori
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