Chicano

American  

[chi-kah-noh, -kan-oh] / tʃɪˈkɑ noʊ, -ˈkæn oʊ /

Or chicano

adjective

1. of or relating to Mexican Americans or their culture.

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noun

plural

Chicanos

1. a Mexican American.

chicano British  

/ tʃɪˈkɑːnəʊ /

noun

1. an American citizen of Mexican origin

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Usage

What does Chicano mean? A Chicano is a person who is Mexican American. In other words, it’s someone of Mexican descent who was born in or now lives in the United States, as in Although Jorge loves living in the United States, he remains a proud Chicano, frequently visiting his Mexican hometown. Chicano is also used as an adjective to describe Mexican American people or things involving them or their culture, as in Rosa loved Chicano food so much that she became a chef and opened a popular Chicano restaurant. Chicano comes from Mexican Spanish, a language that uses gendered nouns. Chicano is the masculine form, while Chicana is the feminine form. Chican@ and Chicanx are sometimes used as gender-neutral forms. As with any term that refers to a person’s identity, it is best to ask the person what term they prefer to identify themselves with. Even if a person fits the dictionary definition of Chicano, they might prefer to be identified by another term, such as Mexican American, American, Mexican, Hispanic, or Latino. Example: The ad campaign was targeted at the city’s large Chicano population, who were proud of their Mexican heritage.

Etymology

Origin of Chicano

First recorded in 1960–65; from Mexican Spanish, by shortening and alteration of mexicano Mexican ( def. )

Example Sentences

Honoring these unassuming entities is the main focus of a new community exhibit, titled “Our Empire,” at the Cheech Marin Center for Chicano Art & Culture.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

In the 1970s, Chicano artists in the U.S. adopted Kahlo as an emblem of their cultural pride and demand for equal rights.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026

Cal State Fullerton Chicano studies professor Alexandro José Gradilla remembered inviting Acuña to speak on his campus in 2011.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

Chavez’s name also adorns buildings and departments across California college campuses, especially those focused on Latino communities, Chicano studies and labor studies.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

Chicano, the Spanish word, was a term lower-class Mexican-Americans had long used to name themselves.

From "Hunger of Memory" by Richard Rodriguez