Chicana

American  

[chi-kah-nuh, -kan-uh] / tʃɪˈkɑ nə, -ˈkæn ə /

Or chicana

adjective

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

   a conference on Chicana issues.

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noun

1. a Mexican American girl or woman.

Etymology

Origin of Chicana

First recorded in 1965–70; from Mexican Spanish, feminine of Chicano

Example Sentences

Chicana artist Nao Bustamante and Track 16 Gallery brought “Brown Disco” to the streets, which featured a giant gold disco ball and figures from decades of L.A. queer nightlife.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 21, 2026

His death was announced in a Facebook post by Cal State Northidge’s Department of Chicano and Chicana Studies, which Acuña helped establish and where he taught for over four decades.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 24, 2026

Amy Contreras is a Chicana from Los Angeles and a recent graduate of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, where she studied comparative ethnic studies and Spanish.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2025

Garcia’s second album, “Cha Cha Palace,” delved further into what it meant to be a Chicana growing up bicultural in the San Gabriel Valley — a quintessentially American experience, yet a very individual one.

From New York Times • Jun. 3, 2024

Day of the Dead “is my favorite holiday,” said Amezkua, 53, who identifies as Chicana.

From New York Times • Apr. 11, 2024