Latin

1 of 2

adjective

Lat·​in ˈla-tᵊn 

1

a

: of, relating to, or composed in Latin

b

: romance

2

: of or relating to Latium or the Latins

3

: of or relating to the part of the Catholic Church that until recently used a Latin rite and forms the patriarchate of the pope

4

: of or relating to the peoples or countries using Romance languages

specifically : of or relating to the peoples or countries of Latin America

Latin

2 of 2

noun

1

: the Italic language of ancient Latium and of Rome and until modern times the dominant language of school, church, and state in western Europe see Indo-European Languages Table

2

: a member of the people of ancient Latium

3

: a Catholic of the Latin rite

4

: a member of one of the Latin peoples

specifically : a native or inhabitant of Latin America

5

: latin alphabet

Examples of Latin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Its viral success has also skyrocketed the track to No. 6 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart, becoming the first time a Chilean artist enters the top 10 in 25 years. —Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 3 Apr. 2024

The new price applies to customers checking a bag within 24 hours of their departure and traveling on the airline’s Blue, Blue Basic, or Blue Extra fares within the United States, Latin America, the Caribbean, or Canada. —Alison Fox, Travel + Leisure, 2 Apr. 2024

Tragedy in Surfside 305-376-3446 Jay Weaver writes about federal crime at the crossroads of South Florida and Latin America. —Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024

The worldwide leader in sports has a media empire that spans the globe with broadcast channels in the U.S., Latin America, Africa, and Europe, its own streaming service, and now a budding sports gambling operation after a $1.5 billion licensing deal with Penn Entertainment. —Paolo Confino, Fortune, 2 Apr. 2024

Studying Latin, logic, and grammar; practicing public speaking and dramatic performance; and, yes, memorizing lots of texts (including entire books of the Bible) developed my mind in ways that set me apart and served me well throughout my education, including in my graduate work. —The New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2024

Across Africa, Asia, and Latin America, officials and citizens believe that the United States and some of its allies in Europe have greenlighted Israel’s wholesale destruction of Gaza. —Comfort Ero, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024

Labor experts attribute the spike in child labor violations, which have tripled over the past 10 years according to a Post analysis, to a tight labor market that has prompted employers to hire more teens, as well as migrant children arriving from Latin America. —Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024

Her last project arrived in 2022 with EP Así Me Siento Hoy, which earned her a Best New Artist Latin Grammy nod. —Tomás Mier, Rolling Stone, 22 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, from Old English, from Latin Latinus, from Latium, ancient country of Italy

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Latin

• Late Latin
• Latin-American
• Latin Americanist
• Latin cross
• Low Latin
• Medieval Latin
• Neo-Latin
• New Latin
• Latin alphabet
• Latin square
• Vulgar Latin
• Old Latin

Kids Definition

Latin

1 of 2 adjective

Lat·​in ˈlat-ᵊn 

1

a

: of, relating to, or composed in Latin

Latin grammar

b

: romance

Latin languages

2

: of or relating to that part of the Catholic Church that formerly used a Latin rite

3

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the countries or peoples of Latin America

Latin

2 of 2 noun

1

: the Italic language of ancient Rome

2

: an ancient Roman

3

: a member of one of the peoples speaking Romance languages

especially : a person born or living in Latin America