Malay

noun

Ma·​lay mə-ˈlā  ˈmā-(ˌ)lā 

1

: a member of a people of the Malay Peninsula, eastern Sumatra, parts of Borneo, and some adjacent islands

2

: the Austronesian language of the Malays

Malay adjective

Malayan

mə-ˈlā-ən 

mā-;

ˈmā-ˌlā-

noun or adjective

Examples of Malay in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The cavernous space, laid out over two floors, is a riot of international cuisine, with stalls selling everything from Malay to Dominican to Nepali. —Simon Willis, Travel + Leisure, 14 Apr. 2025

Captain Lakshmi, as she became known, traveled the Malay Peninsula—up to Kuala Lumpur, Penang, and Ipoh—to not only marshal donations of jewelry but to convince girls and women to sign on for military training at the RJR’s Singapore camp. —H.m.a. Leow, JSTOR Daily, 7 Apr. 2025

As with other hotels on the Malay Peninsula that are pushing the boundaries of wellness, the resort sees its program as a multidisciplinary endeavor — encompassing food and beverage, gym, in-room amenities, and its spa. —Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 6 Apr. 2025

In 1858, British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace wrote Charles Darwin a letter while burning with fever in a remote hut in the Malay Archipelago. —Scott Travers, Forbes, 1 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

obsolete Dutch Malayo (now Maleier), from Malay Mĕlayu

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Malay

noun

Ma·​lay mə-ˈlā  ˈmā-ˌlā 

plural Malays

1

: a member of a people of the Malay Peninsula and neighboring islands

2

: the language of the Malay people

Malay adjective

Malayan

mə-ˈlā-ən 

ˈmā-ˌlā-

adjective or noun