Latino

American  

[luh-tee-noh, la-] / ləˈti noʊ, læ- /

Or latino

adjective

1. of or relating to people of Latin American origin or descent, especially those living in the United States: Latino audiences;

   Latino business owners;

   Latino audiences;

   the Latino community;

   Latino immigrants.

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noun

plural

Latinos

1. a person of Latin American origin or descent, especially one living in the United States.

   a growing population of Latinos in the Midwest.

Latino British  

/ læˈtiːnəʊ /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• Latina noun

Etymology

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”

Example Sentences

Now, the 68-year-old has a chance to become California’s first Latino governor.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

During the raids, many Los Angeles teams, including the Dodgers and the Galaxy, were criticized for their silence, despite having a large Latino fan base.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

The issue is especially pressing in Los Angeles, where an estimated 30-40% of residents are affected by fatty liver disease, with even higher rates in Latino communities.

From Science Daily • Apr. 16, 2026

“The erosion of working-class support—among Black, white and Latino voters alike—has unnerved every ideological wing of the Democratic Party,” the New York Times reported last year.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

Danny Haro, a Latino from East L.A., left his barrio and became a lawyer.

From "The Freedom Writers Diary" by The Freedom Writers