Australasia
/ˌɒstrəˈleɪʒə/noun
The geographic region comprising Australia, New Zealand, and nearby islands.
Did you know?Australasia was coined in the 19th century as a learned geographic term, combining Latin australis (“southern”) with Asia, so its “mystique” is actually a scholarly invention rather than an ancient native name.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Latin
Latin
australis
“southern, of the south”
Ancient Greek
Greek
Asía
“Asia, the eastern land known to the Greeks”
18th Century
French/Latin scholarly coinage
Australasia
“a proposed southern geographic region”
19th Century
English
Australasia
“a term for Australia, New Zealand, and neighboring islands”
Modern English
English
Australasia
“the region comprising Australia, New Zealand, and nearby islands”
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