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Definition of papua new guinea
papua new guinea
Adjective:Papua New Guinean
papua new guinea Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
An independent island country in Oceania that occupies the eastern half of the island of New Guinea and numerous offshore islands in the southwestern Pacific Ocean.
Example
"The diverse ecosystems of Papua New Guinea are home to hundreds of indigenous communities and unique bird of paradise species."
Word Nuance & Usage
Papua New Guinea refers strictly to the independent country occupying the eastern half of the island of New Guinea; the western half comprises several provinces belonging to Indonesia.
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name 'Papua' derives from a Malay word describing the frizzy hair of the Melanesian inhabitants. 'New Guinea' was coined in 1545 by Spanish explorer Yñigo Ortiz de Retez, who noted that the people resembled the inhabitants of the Guinea coast in West Africa.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Papua new guinea. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/papua new guinea