a chain of volcanic and coral islands in the W Pacific, east of the Philippines and north of New Guinea: divided politically into Guam (a US unincorporated territory) and the islands north of Guam constituting the Northern Mariana Islands (a US commonwealth territory). Area: 1018 sq km (393 sq miles)
Former name (1521–1668): Ladrone Islands
Mariana Islands in American English
(ˌmɛriˈænə; ˌ mæriˌænə)
group of islands in the W Pacific Ocean, east of the Philippines: it includes Guam and the U.S. commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands: formerly (except Guam) a Japanese possession and (1947-86) part of the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands