Hispanic

[ hi-span-ik ]

/ hɪˈspæn ɪk /

adjective

of or relating to Spanish-speaking Latin America: the United States and its Hispanic neighbors.

Also His·pan·o

[hi-span-oh, -spah-noh] /hɪˈspæn oʊ, -ˈspɑ noʊ/. of or relating to people of Spanish-speaking descent: Hispanic students;the Hispanic vote;Hispanic communities. Compare Latino(def 1).

noun

Also called His·pan·o-A·mer·i·can [hi-span-oh-uh-mer-i-kuh n, -spah-noh] /hɪˈspæn oʊ əˈmɛr ɪ kən, -ˈspɑ noʊ/, His·pan·ic A·mer·i·can. a citizen or resident of the United States who is of Spanish or Spanish-speaking Latin-American descent. Compare Latino(def 2).

a person whose primary or native language is Spanish.

Origin of Hispanic

From the Latin word hispānicus, dating back to 1575–85. See Hispania, -ic

Related formsHis·pan·i·cal·ly, adverbnon-His·pan·ic, adjectivepre-His·pan·ic, adjectivetrans-His·pan·ic, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hispanic

A more recent phenomenon in the political universe is politicians of Hispanic heritage who are not fluent in Spanish.
Which Potential Candidates Speak Spanish—and Will It Matter?|Eleanor Clift|December 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Hispanic Republican moderate Brian Sandoval just won a landslide reelection in Nevada.
Could This Be the First Pro-Choice Republican on a National Ticket?|David Freedlander|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sen. Ted Cruz, one of two Hispanic Republicans in the Senate, accused Democrats of “pigeonholing” minority candidates.
The Republican Rainbow Coalition Is Real|Tim Mak|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Media reports confirm that Gardner made a significant pitch to Hispanic voters in both English and Spanish.
Latinos Aren’t a ‘Cheap Date’ for Democrats Anymore|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Abbott took advantage of that opening and pulled down a hefty share of the Hispanic vote.
Latinos Aren’t a ‘Cheap Date’ for Democrats Anymore|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even in the library of the Hispanic Society of America there is no record of him.
McClure's Magazine, Vol 31, No 2, June 1908|Various
It was situated in Hispanic Bœtica, having been built by Marcellus.
Ruins of Ancient Cities (Vol. I of II)|Charles Bucke
Impassioned speakers and writers adjured the ghost of Hispanic confederation to rise and confront the new northern peril.
The Hispanic Nations of the New World|William R. Shepherd
Increase of American business interests in Hispanic America.
A Syllabus of Hispanic-American History|William Whatley Pierson
Certain of the Hispanic republics, however, were not allowed to remain alone on their side of "the margin of international life."
The Hispanic Nations of the New World|William R. Shepherd

British Dictionary definitions for hispanic

Hispanic

/ (hɪˈspænɪk) /

adjective

relating to, characteristic of, or derived from Spain or Spanish-speaking countries

noun

US a person of Latin-American or Spanish descent living in the US

usage

his is the word most generally used in the US to refer to people of Latin American or Spanish ancestry

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for hispanic

Hispanic

adj.

"pertaining to Spain" (especially ancient Spain) 1580s, from Latin Hispanicus, from Hispania "Iberian Peninsula," from Hispanus "Spaniard" (see Spaniard). Specific application to Spanish-speaking parts of the New World is 1889, American English; especially applied since c.1972 to Spanish-speaking persons of Latin American descent living in U.S.

Hispanic

adjective

noun

RELATED CONTENT

Origin of Hispanic

Examples from the Web for hispanic

British Dictionary definitions for hispanic

Hispanic

adjective

noun

usage

Word Origin and History for hispanic

Hispanic