Micronesia

[ mahy-kruh-nee-zhuh, ‑shuh ]

noun

1. one of the three principal divisions of Oceania, comprising the small Pacific islands north of the equator and east of the Philippines, whose main groups are the Mariana Islands, the Caroline Islands, and the Marshall Islands.
2. Federated States of Micronesia, a group of islands in the western Pacific, in the Caroline Islands, comprising the islands of Pohnpei, Truk, Yap, and Kosrae: formerly a part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands and now a self-governing area associated with the United States. 271 square miles (701 square kilometers).

Micronesia

/ ˌmaɪkrəʊˈniːzɪə /

noun

1. one of the three divisions of islands in the Pacific (the others being Melanesia and Polynesia); the NW division of Oceania: includes the Mariana, Caroline, Marshall, and Kiribati island groups, and Nauru Island
2. Federated States of Micronesia
   an island group in the W Pacific, formerly within the United States Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands: comprises the islands of Truk, Yap, Ponape, and Kosrae: formed in 1979 when the islands became self-governing: status of free association with the US from 1982. Languages: English and Micronesian languages. Religion: Christian majority. Currency: US dollar. Capital: Palikir. Pop: 106 104 (2013 est)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Micronesia¹

C19: from micro- + Greek nēsos island; so called from the small size of many of the islands; on the model of Polynesia

Example Sentences

Stretched across boards and swatches of windsurfer sails, the staffs suggest rafts, whether of the actual sort Davis saw while traveling in Micronesia or symbolic ones on which to brave rising sea levels.

From Washington Post

The songs originated from places as varied as Micronesia and Western Africa, Southeastern Europe and Southern South America.

From Nautilus

It has medical writing, but it also has travel writing: going to Micronesia to see this island of colorblind people.

From The Daily Beast

Texas is also well ahead of Rwanda (44), Micronesia (51), and Egypt (50).

From The Daily Beast

Singularly enough, this feature also characterizes some of the languages of Micronesia.

From Project Gutenberg

Polynesia, Micronesia, Melanesia, are the names by which we know them.

From Project Gutenberg

In that, and naked otherwise, she moves with an incomparable liberty and grace and life, that marks the poetry of Micronesia.

From Project Gutenberg

Kanoa and his wife, the good Hawaiian missionaries to Micronesia, came with their little baby to bid us good-by.

From Project Gutenberg

Then Kanoa, the missionary to Micronesia, made a prayer; after which, he and his wife sung a Micronesian hymn.

From Project Gutenberg