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Definition of macquarie

macquarie

/məˈkwɔː.ɹi/
Mac · quar · ie
Plural:Macquaries
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macquarie Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Australian A Scottish-born British army officer, Lachlan Macquarie (1762–1824), who served as the fifth Governor of New South Wales and played a pivotal role in the transition of Australia from a penal colony to a free settlement.

Example

"Many landmarks, institutions, and geographical features across Australia were named in honor of Governor Macquarie."

2

Australian The widely recognized, authoritative dictionary of Australian English, originally published in 1981.

Example

"When unsure about the precise spelling of a local slang term, the editor always consulted the Macquarie."

3

Australian An oceanic island, formally known as Macquarie Island, located in the Southern Ocean roughly halfway between New Zealand and Antarctica, recognized globally as a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Example

"The scientific expedition traveled to Macquarie to study its enormous population of royal penguins and seals."

• Rhymes for macquarie

• Nearby Words

macleays water snake
maclura
macon
macquarie
macquarie river
macrame
macro

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Scottish Gaelic surname 'MacGuaire', meaning 'son of Guaire' (a personal name meaning 'noble' or 'proud'). It became deeply embedded in Australian toponymy and institutions in honor of Major-General Lachlan Macquarie, an influential early governor of New South Wales.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Macquarie. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/macquarie
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