Filipino
Americanadjective
noun
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Sometimes Offensive. an inhabitant of the Philippines or a person of Philippine origin or descent.
noun
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Also (feminine): Filipina. a native or inhabitant of the Philippines
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another name for Tagalog
adjective
Sensitive Note
Use as a noun in reference to a person (e.g., “a Filipino”) is sometimes considered offensive.
Other Word Forms
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The firing on Wednesday of two Type-88 missiles formed part of exercises in the Philippines between US, Australian, Filipino and Japanese troops as well as contingents from France, New Zealand and Canada.
From Barron's • May 7, 2026
Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has said his country would inevitably become drawn in, pointing to the presence of more than 100,000 Filipino workers in Taiwan.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 4, 2026
A coed Filipino version was made in 1975, and a prosaic Americanized take in 1990.
From Los Angeles Times • May 4, 2026
Mejia, who is of Filipino ancestry, became the first Asian American to hold citywide elected office in Los Angeles.
From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026
On one side of the yoyo there was a palm tree which the Filipino had carved at Ignatius’ request.
From "A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.