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.

---

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

---

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”; Philippines

Example Sentences

In the state’s ethnic studies curriculum, Chávez is taught alongside other key figures such as Dolores Huerta and Filipino American labor leader Larry Itliong, with emphasis on the broader farmworker movement and its diverse contributors.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 23, 2026

Among the concertgoers is Jocenhyl Flores, a 35-year-old Filipino living in South Korea, one of the tens of millions of worldwide followers of BTS.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Judy Domingo, president of the 50,000-strong United Filipino Seafarers union, told AFP she had taken hundreds of calls from concerned sailors bottled up in the strait, with food supplies one of the immediate concerns.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

Filipino Pacquiao retired from the sport to focus on his political career in 2021 but returned to the ring last July to fight WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, who retained his title after a draw.

From BBC • Feb. 23, 2026

It’s our big fund-raiser for the Filipino American Community Senior Center, with dizzying rides, tasty food, and all my friends hanging out.

From "The House That Lou Built" by Mae Respicio