Maltese

noun

Mal·​tese mȯl-ˈtēz 

-ˈtēs

plural Maltese

1

: a native or inhabitant of Malta

2

: the Semitic language of the Maltese people

3

: any of a breed of toy dogs with a long silky white coat, a black nose, and very dark eyes

Maltese adjective

Illustration of Maltese

• Maltese 3

Examples of Maltese in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The actor had three children with his late ex-wife, Faye Maltese, who died in 2017. —Alli Rosenbloom, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025

The 95-year-old actor shared one son and two daughters with his late ex-wife, Faye Maltese: Christopher, 65, Elizabeth, 62, and Leslie, 58. —Jessica Schladebeck, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025

Hackman has two daughters Elizabeth Jean and Leslie Anne—with his first wife, Faye Maltese. —Hannah Parry, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025

The French Connection actor shared three children, Elizabeth, Christopher and Leslie, with his late ex-wife Faye Maltese. —Sharareh Drury, People.com, 7 Mar. 2025

Hackman had three children — two daughters and a son — with his first wife, Faye Maltese. —Nicole Brown Chau, CBS News, 3 Mar. 2025

Bonus points for writer Michael Maltese’s hilarious faux-French dialogue. —Jeremy Fassler, Vulture, 2 Mar. 2025

Hackman had one son and two daughters with his first wife, Faye Maltese. —Ayana Archie, NPR, 28 Feb. 2025

Hackman divorced his first wife, Faye Maltese, in 1986. —Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Maltese

• Maltese cross

Rhymes for Maltese

• agrees
• appease
• bailees
• bougies
• burmese
• chemise
• chickpeas
• chinese
• cowpeas
• curies
• decrees
• degrees

Kids Definition

Maltese

noun

Mal·​tese mȯl-ˈtēz 

plural Maltese

1

: a person born or living in Malta

2

: the Semitic language of the Maltese people

3

: any of a breed of toy dogs with a long silky white coat, a black nose, and dark eyes

Maltese adjective