Hispanic

[ hi-span-ik ]

adjective

1. Spanish ( def 1 ).
2. of or relating to Spanish-speaking Latin America:

   the United States and its Hispanic neighbors.

3. Also His·pan·o []. of or relating to people of Spanish-speaking descent: the Hispanic vote; Compare Latino ( def 1 ).

   Hispanic students;

   the Hispanic vote;

   Hispanic communities.

noun

1. Also called His·pan·o-A·mer·i·can [hi-, span, -oh-, uh, -, mer, -i-k, uh, n, -, spah, -noh],. a citizen or resident of the United States who is of Spanish or Spanish-speaking Latin American descent. Compare Latino ( def 2 ).
2. a person whose primary or native language is Spanish.

Hispanic

/ hɪˈspænɪk /

adjective

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

noun

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

Usage Note

Some words that describe national or ethnic identities are acceptable as plural nouns, but are more controversial as singular nouns. This is the case for Hispanic. It’s often acceptable as a plural noun (a candidate favored by Hispanics ). However, it may sometimes be less so as a singular noun (the candidate who is a Hispanic ). Such words are always perfectly appropriate as adjectives (strategies to get Hispanic voters to the polls).

Usage

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

Other Words From

• His·pan·i·cal·ly adverb
• non-His·pan·ic adjective
• pre-His·pan·ic adjective
• trans-His·pan·ic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Hispanic¹

First recorded in 1580–90; from Latin hispānicus, “Spanish”; Hispania, -ic

Example Sentences

But at the same time, since Zimmerman, you've been hearing cases about officers killing black children—black men, Hispanic men.

From The Daily Beast

A more recent phenomenon in the political universe is politicians of Hispanic heritage who are not fluent in Spanish.

From The Daily Beast

Seventy percent of Hispanic Americans reported being very or somewhat concerned about climate change, and 57 percent of blacks.

From The Daily Beast

Hispanic Republican moderate Brian Sandoval just won a landslide reelection in Nevada.

From The Daily Beast

Sen. Ted Cruz, one of two Hispanic Republicans in the Senate, accused Democrats of “pigeonholing” minority candidates.

From The Daily Beast

The geometrical patterns and spiral ornaments, which also occur in Hispanic majolica, have a Moorish flavor.

From Project Gutenberg

African American and Hispanic students posted all-time highs.

From Project Gutenberg

It was situated in Hispanic Bœtica, having been built by Marcellus.

From Project Gutenberg

Of all the Hispanic nations, however, Brazil was easily the most stable.

From Project Gutenberg

In 1876 these Hispanic nations stood on the threshold of a new era.

From Project Gutenberg