Latino

or la·ti·no

[ luh-tee-noh, la- ]

/ ləˈti noʊ, læ- /

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adjective

of or relating to people of Latin American origin or descent, especially those living in the United States: Latino business owners;Latino audiences;the Latino community;Latino immigrants.Compare Hispanic (def. 3).

noun, plural La·ti·nos.

a person of Latin American origin or descent, especially one living in the United States: a growing population of Latinos in the Midwest.Compare Hispanic (def. 4).

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Compare Latina, Latin@, Latinx.

Origin of Latino

An Americanism dating back to 1945–50; from Spanish (United States), perhaps by ellipsis from Spanish latinoamericano “Latin American,” equivalent to latino “Latin” (referring to the places or people with Latinate or Romance language in common) + americano “American”

historical usage of Latino

See Latinx.

Words nearby Latino

Latinic, Latinism, Latinist, Latinity, Latinize, Latino, Latino-Faliscan, Latin Quarter, Latin Rite, Latin school, Latin square

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Latino in a sentence

In neighborhoods such as Harlem, 33 percent of students attend charter schools, a majority of them black or Latino.
How Public Sector Unions Divide the Democrats|Daniel DiSalvo|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even in places as blue-leaning as Colorado, Latino support for pro-growth Republicans has been growing.
Time to Bring Back the Truman Democrats|Joel Kotkin|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the Latino community the legacy of the Mexican Mafia spans multiple generations.
The Mexican Mafia Is the Daddy of All Street Gangs|Seth Ferranti|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
According to the indictment, it is part of a network of Latino gangs controlled by La Eme.
The Mexican Mafia Is the Daddy of All Street Gangs|Seth Ferranti|December 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Was the increased Latino support for Republicans a blip or trend line?
Latinos Aren’t a ‘Cheap Date’ for Democrats Anymore|Ruben Navarrette Jr.|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And this done, the said Cardinal Latino returned to Romagna to his legation with great honour.
Villani's Chronicle|Giovanni Villani
We, speak Latino more—Vellem ostenderes quare hi non profligaverint illos?
The Posthumous Works of Thomas De Quincey, Vol. II (2 vols)|Thomas De Quincey
Cardinal Latino to some extent succeeded, and was granted a kind of temporary dictatorship.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 10, Slice 5|Various
Dante repeatedly uses Latino for Italiano, as in Purgatorio, xi.
Notes and Queries, Number 183, April 30, 1853|Various
At the 395 present day it may still be seen there in the Chapel of Messer Latino.
The Makers of Modern Rome|Mrs. (Margaret) Oliphant

British Dictionary definitions for Latino

Latino

/ (læˈtiːnəʊ) /

noun plural -nos

US an inhabitant of the US who is of Latin American origin

Derived forms of Latino

Latina, fem n

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