mulatto

noun

mu·​lat·​to mə-ˈlä-(ˌ)tō How to pronounce mulatto (audio)
mu̇-,
myu̇-,
-ˈla- How to pronounce mulatto (audio)
plural mulattoes or mulattos
1
usually offensive : the first-generation offspring of a Black person and a white person
2
usually offensive : a person of mixed white and Black ancestry

Word History

Etymology

Spanish mulato, from mulo mule, from Latin mulus

First Known Use

1591, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mulatto was in 1591

Dictionary Entries Near mulatto

Cite this Entry

“Mulatto.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mulatto. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on mulatto

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!