Papuan

noun

Pap·​u·​an ˈpa-pyə-wən How to pronounce Papuan (audio)
-pə-
1
: a native or inhabitant of Papua
2
: a member of any of the native peoples of New Guinea and adjacent areas of Melanesia
3
: any of a heterogeneous group of languages spoken in New Guinea, New Britain, and the Solomon islands
Papuan adjective

Word History

First Known Use

1786, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Papuan was in 1786

Dictionary Entries Near Papuan

Papua mace

Papuan

Papua New Guinea

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Papuan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Papuan. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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