| a U.S. trust territory in the Pacific Ocean, comprising the Mariana, Marshall and Caroline Islands: approved by the United Nations 1947; since 1976 constituents of the trusteeship have established or moved toward self-government. 133,732; 717 sq. mi. (1857 sq. km). Compare Belau, Marshall Islands, Micronesia (def. 2), Northern Mariana Islands. |
| Pacific Islands, Trust Territory of the A group of more than 2,000 islands and islets of the northwest Pacific Ocean administered by the United States as a United Nations trust territory from 1947 to 1978. It originally included the Caroline, Marianas (excluding Guam), and Marshall islands. Most parts of the territory, including Palau, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Marshall Islands, are now self-governing. |