islander
gb/ˈaɪləndɚ/ us/ˈaɪləndɚ/
B1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
role
1
person who lives on an island
A person who lives on an island.
Usage pattern:
an islander (from [island/place])
Common mistake:
Don’t confuse islander (a person) with island (a place).
Synonyms
island resident (More descriptive and less like a fixed label.)
|
island dweller (Slightly more literary; emphasizes living there.)
Antonyms
mainlander (A person who lives on the mainland, not an island.)
Collocations
local islanders
|native islanders
|remote islanders
|islanders' traditions
|the islanders' way of life
|meet the islanders
|support islanders
|islanders and mainlanders
Themes
geography
|people
|identity
Examples
- The islanders rely on fishing and tourism for most of their income.
- As an islander, she’s used to traveling by ferry in winter.
- The storm cut the islanders off from the mainland for two days.
Learner examples
- He is an islander.
- The islanders are friendly.
Noun
B2
role
2
Pacific Islands person (regional use)
In some countries, an Islander means a person from the Pacific Islands.
Usage pattern:
an Islander; Islander communities
Common mistake:
This sense is regional and can be unclear elsewhere; in international English, Pacific Islander is usually clearer.
Synonyms
Pacific Islander (More specific and widely understood internationally.)
|
Pasifika person (Common in New Zealand contexts; often used as a broad umbrella term.)
Collocations
Islander communities
|Islander culture
|Islander languages
|Islander students
|Islander health
|Māori and Islander
|Pasifika and Islander
Themes
identity
|people
|geography
Examples
- The school has strong support programs for Māori and Islander students.
- He identifies as an Islander and often visits family in Samoa.
- The festival celebrates Islander music and dance.
Learner examples
- In New Zealand, he is called an Islander.
Noun
B2
role
3
member of a team called Islanders
A player (or sometimes a fan) of a sports team called the Islanders.
Usage pattern:
an Islander; Islanders [team]
Common mistake:
This is usually a proper-name use tied to a specific team and context.
Collocations
an Islanders player
|the Islanders' coach
|an Islanders fan
|Islanders game
|Islanders jersey
|Islanders season
Themes
sports
Examples
- He became an Islander after being traded last summer.
- The Islanders won 4–2 at home.
- Islanders fans filled the arena for the playoff game.
Learner examples
- She is an Islanders fan.
Grammar
Dictionary form
islander
IPA
GB/ˈaɪləndɚ/
US/ˈaɪləndɚ/
Syllables & stress
is - lander (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (is)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: islander
- Plural: islanders
Word family
Expressions
caribbean islander
1/kɚˈɪbiən ˈaɪləndɚ/
fixed phrase
person from the Caribbean islands
A person from a Caribbean island.
Examples
- Many Caribbean islanders move abroad for work and study.
- The museum features art by Caribbean islanders.
- She grew up as a Caribbean islander before moving to Canada.
long islander
1/lˈɔŋ ˈaɪləndɚ/
fixed phrase
person from Long Island, New York
A person from Long Island (New York).
Examples
- As a Long Islander, he’s used to commuting into the city.
- Long Islanders were warned to prepare for coastal flooding.
- She’s a proud Long Islander and loves the beaches.
new york islanders
1/njˈu jˈɔɹk ˈaɪləndɚz/
fixed phrase
New York NHL hockey team
A professional ice hockey team called the New York Islanders.
Examples
- The New York Islanders play their home games on Long Island.
- He bought tickets to see the New York Islanders this weekend.
- The New York Islanders announced a roster change.
pacific islander
1/pəsˈɪfɪk ˈaɪləndɚ/
fixed phrase
person from the Pacific Islands
A person from the Pacific Islands.
Examples
- The clinic provides culturally appropriate care for Pacific Islander families.
- She is a Pacific Islander with roots in Tonga.
- The report includes Pacific Islander health data.