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

Inflected Forms

noun

• 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 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