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

Filipinos plural

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.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Filipinos
  plural

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

"The match started at 20:30 local time and everybody on social media was following the match and posting about Filipino pride," former Philippines tennis player Dyan Castillejo told Sportsworld on the BBC World Service.

From BBC • Jul. 4, 2026

"He kept on messaging me even when I was sleeping," the Filipino domestic worker told AFP, requesting that her real name and age be withheld.

From Barron's • Jul. 3, 2026

These travelers were commonly referred to as “Indios chinos” in the colonial caste structure, though historians say the majority were Filipino.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026

In November 2022, Tom Nicholson Jnr's father Thomas Nicholson – who led TN Trawlers – admitted failing to get adequate care for a Filipino crewman, Joel Quince.

From BBC • Jun. 8, 2026

They were Filipino, dark, with silky black hair.

From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro