What does "kiwi" mean?
A flightless bird of the order Apterygiformes native to New Zealand.
Kiwi
/ˈkiːwi/ adj, name, noun, verb, slang
adj, name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A flightless bird of the order Apterygiformes native to New Zealand.
- Grammar: kiwi is listed as adj, name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: chinese gooseberry, new zealander, actinidia chinensis, actinidia deliciosa.
- Useful contrasts: flying bird, foreigner.
- Usage evidence: An Englishman, a Scotsman, an Irishman, a Welshman, a Gurkha, a Latvian, a Turk, an Aussie, a German, an American, an Egyptian, a Japanese, a Mexican, a Spaniard, a Russian, a Pole, a Lithuanian, a Jordanian, a Kiwi, a Swede, a Finn, an Israeli, a Romanian, a Bulgarian, a Serb, a Swiss, a Greek, a Singaporean, an Italian, a Norwegian, an Argentinian, a Libyan and a South African went to a night club. The bouncer said: "Sorry, I can't let you in without a Thai."
How to use "kiwi"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "kiwi" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "kiwi" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "kiwi" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "kiwi" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "kiwi" is acting as adj, name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "chinese gooseberry" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "kiwi", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A flightless bird of the order Apterygiformes native to New Zealand. countable, uncountable
- 2 Any kind of black shoe polish. Singapore, slang, uncountable
- 3 A New Zealander. informal
"A blokart (say blow-cart) plays to the penchant that Kiwis and Aussies have for pushing the limits in search of fun. It’s a ground-hugging, tricyclelike combination of aluminum tubing and rubber wheels with a steering wheel and a sail."
- 4 nocturnal flightless bird of New Zealand having a long neck and stout legs; only surviving representative of the order Apterygiformes wordnet
- 5 Alternative letter-case form of Kiwi (“person from New Zealand”). alt-of, countable, uncountable
Show 8 more definitions
- 6 fuzzy brown egg-shaped fruit with slightly tart green flesh wordnet
- 7 A New Zealand dollar. countable, informal, uncountable
- 8 a native or inhabitant of New Zealand wordnet
- 9 A kiwi fruit. countable, uncountable
- 10 climbing vine native to China; cultivated in New Zealand for its fuzzy edible fruit with green meat wordnet
- 11 A green-yellow colour, like that of kiwi fruit flesh (also called kiwi green). uncountable
- 12 A member of the air force who does not fly. countable, slang, uncountable
"And as its role grew in importance, ground commanders, or kiwis as they were called, made many mistakes in judgment […]"
- 13 A testicle. countable, plural-normally, slang, uncountable
"Now Rex he was a Texan out of New Orleans and he travelled with the carnival shows He ran bumper cars, sucked cheap cigars and he candied up his nose He got wind of the big brown beaver so he thought he'd take himself a peek But the beaver was quick and he grabbed him by the kiwis And he ain't pissed for a week (and a half)"
Verb
- 1 To polish (boots) with black shoe polish. Singapore, slang
"Johari Salleh: Ya, ya. Better not waste time. Must prepare, tomorrow morning got inspection. Teo Ah Beng: Ya lah, must kiwi the boots. Can borrow [lend] me your cloth? Krishnamoorthy: Ya, no problem. You better kiwi quickly. 11 pm lights off. […]"
Adjective
- 1 Alternative letter-case form of Kiwi (“of or from New Zealand”) alt-of, informal
- 2 of or from New Zealand informal
"The two Kiwi brothers who spent time in a Thailand prison after allegedly wrestling an officer to the ground and taking his gun, have returned to New Zealand."
Proper Noun
- 1 A rural locality in Tasman district, New Zealand.
"At Kiwi, 40 miles from Nelson, eight women installed themselves in the goods shed, taking with them their knitting, and a supply of food and magazines. The demolition crew was unable to pull the building down without injuring them."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
flying birdforeigner
Example
"An Englishman, a Scotsman, an Irishman, a Welshman, a Gurkha, a Latvian, a Turk, an Aussie, a German, an American, an Egyptian, a Japanese, a Mexican, a Spaniard, a Russian, a Pole, a Lithuanian, a Jordanian, a Kiwi, a Swede, a Finn, an Israeli, a Romanian, a Bulgarian, a Serb, a Swiss, a Greek, a Singaporean, an Italian, a Norwegian, an Argentinian, a Libyan and a South African went to a night club. The bouncer said: "Sorry, I can't let you in without a Thai.""
Common questions
What is a synonym for "kiwi"?
Common synonyms include: chinese gooseberry, new zealander, actinidia chinensis, actinidia deliciosa, antipodean, apteryx.
How do you use "kiwi" in a sentence?
An Englishman, a Scotsman, an Irishman, a Welshman, a Gurkha, a Latvian, a Turk, an Aussie, a German, an American, an Egyptian, a Japanese, a Mexican, a Spaniard, a Russian, a Pole, a Lithuanian, a Jordanian, a Kiwi, a Swede, a Finn, an Israeli, a Romanian, a Bulgarian, a Serb, a Swiss, a Greek, a Singaporean, an Italian, a Norwegian, an Argentinian, a Libyan and a South African went to a night club. The bouncer said: "Sorry, I can't let you in without a Thai."
How do you pronounce "kiwi"?
Pronounced /ˈkiːwi/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from Māori kiwi.
Etymology 2
Genericized trademark from the brand of shoe polish originating in Australia, from Māori kiwi.
Etymology 3
From kiwi, a flightless bird native to and a national symbol of New Zealand.