Latino

American  

[luh-tee-noh, la-] / ləˈti noʊ, læ- /

Or latino

adjective

1. of or relating to people of Latin American origin or descent, especially those living in the United States: Latino audiences;

   Latino business owners;

   Latino audiences;

   the Latino community;

   Latino immigrants.

---

noun

Latinos plural

1. a person of Latin American origin or descent, especially one living in the United States.

   a growing population of Latinos in the Midwest.

Latino British  

/ læˈtiːnəʊ /

noun

1. an inhabitant of the US who is of Latin American origin

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Latina
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• Latinos
  plural

Etymology

Origin of Latino

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50; from Spanish (United States), perhaps by ellipsis from Spanish latinoamericano “Latin American,” equivalent to latino “Latin” (referring to the places or people with Latinate or Romance language in common) + americano “American”

Example Sentences

“For so many in the Latino community and beyond, this isn’t just music, it’s memory, it’s home, and perhaps most importantly, it’s heritage being carried forward.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026

Becerra, who could become California’s first elected Latino governor, objected last year when Newsom and legislative leaders decided to freeze Medi-Cal enrollment for adults without legal status, cut benefits, and impose monthly premiums.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 26, 2026

Texas Organizing Project, which supported Crockett during the primary and is dedicated to mobilizing Black and Latino voters, also endorsed Talarico last month.

From Salon • Jun. 25, 2026

The show, which was filmed at the Mayan Theater in downtown Los Angeles, is widely considered the first Latino sketch comedy to air on American television.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026

A stout Latino man in a black sport coat trudges through the automatic sliding doors.

From "Amina's Voice" by Hena Khan