Latinx

adjective

La·​tinx
 primarily a written form  ;
often read as
lə-ˈtē-ˌneks How to pronounce Latinx (audio)
see usage note below
: of, relating to, or marked by Latin American heritage : latine
used as a gender-neutral alternative to Latina or Latino
… the oldest of three girls in a tightknit Latinx family …Sarai Gonzalez and Monica Brown
During her victory speech last night, the activist … thanked the district's primarily Latinx community for their trust in her vision for America.Kat Armstrong
… the first openly LGBTQ Latinx person elected governor in the US …Terrance Heath
Latinx noun
plural Latinx or Latinxs
The 2010 Census had separate categories for racial identity and "Hispanic, Latino or Spanish origin." The text notes, "Latinx is not a race. However, a majority of Latinxs consider it part of their racial identity." Mark Jenkins
Usage of Latine and Latinx

Latine and Latinx are both used as gender-neutral alternatives to feminine Latina and masculine Latino. Each is formed by replacing the grammatically gendered -a and -o Spanish endings with a gender-neutral ending. Latinx, which was coined first, uses the English x (as in the gender-neutral courtesy title Mx.) to denote an unspecified or variable gender. Latine applies the Spanish -e, denoting an unspecified gender, as in estudiante ("student") and prudente ("sensible"). Objections to Latinx are common among people of Latin American heritage and most frequently relate to the fact that the term does not follow regular Spanish word formation and is therefore not easily adopted by many of the people it describes.

Examples of Latinx in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Another 2023 study, from Yale School of Public Health, found Black and Latinx LGBTQ+ youth who live in states with discriminatory policies were more likely to experience symptoms of depression compared to those who live in states with LGBTQ+ protections. Mary Kekatos, ABC News, 23 Mar. 2025 Odette Zapata, a Latinx woman and Sacramento resident, was raised in a Black family, so issues of police brutality against Black and Brown people deeply affect her. Rosalio Ahumada, Sacramento Bee, 21 Mar. 2025 The film was screened at the White House alongside President Joe Biden, becoming the first film to feature there focusing on Latinx characters. Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 20 Mar. 2025 The lawsuit was led by Ana Cantu, who identifies as Mexican and racially Indigenous, on behalf of Hispanic, Latinx, Indigenous, Native American, American Indian, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and Alaska Native employees at Google. Reuters, CNN, 19 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Latinx

Word History

Etymology

latin(o) and latin(a) + x entry 1, replacing the gender-specific Spanish markers -o and -a

First Known Use

2007, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Latinx was in 2007

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Latinx.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Latinx. Accessed 1 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

Latinx

adjective
La·​tinx
 primarily a written form  ;
 often read as  lə-ˈtē-ˌneks
: of, relating to, or marked by Latin American heritage
used as a gender-neutral alternative to Latina or Latino
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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