Filipino

American  

[fil-uh-pee-noh] / ˌfɪl əˈpi noʊ /

Or filipino

adjective

1. of or relating to inhabitants of the Philippines or to people of Philippine origin or descent; Philippine.

   Filipino immigrants living and working in Hawaii.

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noun

plural

Filipinos

1. Sometimes Offensive. an inhabitant of the Philippines or a person of Philippine origin or descent.

2. Pilipino.

Filipino British  

/ ˌfɪlɪˈpiːnəʊ /

noun

1. Also (feminine): Filipina.  a native or inhabitant of the Philippines

2. another name for Tagalog

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adjective

1. of or relating to the Philippines or their inhabitants

Sensitive Note

Use as a noun in reference to a person (e.g., “a Filipino”) is sometimes considered offensive.

Etymology

Origin of Filipino

First recorded in 1895–1900; from Spanish, derived from (las Islas) Filipinas “the Philippine Islands”; see origin at Philippines

Example Sentences

Filipino ferry dispatcher Dave Delos Reyes has been handing out N95 masks for nearly three weeks to protect passengers against the smoke that a landfill fire has sent billowing above a stretch of Manila Bay.

From Barron's • Apr. 30, 2026

LIAN, Philippines—Since oil prices surged in the wake of the U.S.-Iran war, Filipino vegetable farmer Bic Pagkaliwangan’s already thin earnings have shrunk by half.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 28, 2026

One post looked for Filipino men for a “ponzi” project in Poipet, a city on Cambodia’s border with Thailand.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 20, 2026

“Research data in the briefs shows that, over the past five years, the number of students experiencing homelessness has increased within every racial and ethnic group — except Filipino students,” the study authors wrote.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 1, 2026

“Go eat, go eat,” says Lola Juaning—the first words I hear when I walk into any Filipino party.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio