Definition: The collective name for the islands of the Pacific Ocean northeast of Australia, including NEW CALEDONIA; VANUATU; New Hebrides, Solomon Islands, Admiralty Islands, Bismarck Archipelago, FIJI, etc. Melanesia (from the Greek melas, black + nesos, island) is so called from the black color of the natives who are generally considered to be descended originally from the Negroid Papuans and the Polynesians or Malays. (From Webster's New Geographical Dictionary, 1988, p748 & Room, Brewer's Dictionary of Names, 1992, p344)
a group of islands northeast of Australia; includes, in addition to indentions & X refs, Norfolk Island; Melanesians are of Negroid race unless otherwise specified
ExamplesFiji; New Caledonia; Papua New Guinea; Vanuatu
Other names Solomon Islands; Norfolk Island; British Solomon Islands