kiwi

noun

ki·​wi ˈkē-(ˌ)wē How to pronounce kiwi (audio)
1
: any of a small genus (Apteryx) of flightless New Zealand birds with rudimentary wings, stout legs, a long bill, and grayish brown hairlike plumage
2
capitalized : a native or resident of New Zealand
used as a nickname
3

Illustration of kiwi

Illustration of kiwi
  • kiwi 1

Did you know?

A kiwi is any of three species of chicken-sized, grayish brown flightless birds found in New Zealand. Their Maori name refers to the male's shrill call. Kiwis have vestigial wings hidden within the plumage; nostrils at the tip (rather than the base) of the long flexible bill; soft, hairlike feathers; and stout, muscular legs. Each of the four toes has a large claw. Kiwis live in forests, where they sleep by day and forage for worms, insects and their larvae, and berries at night. They run swiftly and use their claws in defense when cornered.

Examples of kiwi in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The Tropical Bloom blends a citrusy mandarin, kiwi and a passion fruit. Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Apr. 2025 Past iterations have been done in the style of New Orleans barbecue shrimp and included pairings like kiwi and Watauga County ham. Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 29 Mar. 2025 The bright glass room opens up to a brick patio whose trellis is wrapped in mature kiwi vines. Tori Latham, Robb Report, 27 Mar. 2025 Shake Shack’s tropical kiwi lemonade includes tiny pieces of kiwi inside the drink, adding a new texture and evoking the chewiness of boba pearls, Parlapiano said. Amelia Lucas, CNBC, 23 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for kiwi

Word History

Etymology

Maori

First Known Use

1835, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of kiwi was in 1835

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Cite this Entry

“Kiwi.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kiwi. Accessed 23 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

kiwi

noun
ki·​wi ˈkē-(ˌ)wē How to pronounce kiwi (audio)
1
: a flightless New Zealand bird with weak and undeveloped wings, stout legs, a long bill, and grayish brown hairlike feathers
2

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