hyphenated

adjective

hy·​phen·​at·​ed ˈhī-fə-ˌnā-təd 

: of, relating to, or being an individual or unit of mixed or diverse background or composition

hyphenated Americans

Examples of hyphenated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That’s when a floating MJ realizes that there is a certain multi-hyphenated, one-man-band talent out of the City of Lakes who poses a serious threat to his goal of global supremacy. —Keith Murphy, VIBE.com, 7 June 2026

Skims is the popular underwear/loungewear/shapewear company owned by the equally multi-hyphenated Kardashian - media celebrity, mogul, mom and current girlfriend of Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton. —Lisa Gutierrez may 2, Kansas City Star, 2 May 2026

As one of the evening's hosts, multi-hyphenated talent Regina King wore an icy blue custom duchess satin Louis Vuitton dress. —Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 15 Mar. 2026

If the melting pot had failed and the hyphenated Americans remained hyphenated, this was so much the better in Bourne’s view. —Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 29 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from the use of hyphenated words (such as German-American) to designate foreign-born citizens of the U.S.

First Known Use

circa 1893, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hyphenated

• abdicated
• abrogated
• acclimated
• activated
• actuated
• adumbrated
• advocated
• aggravated
• aggregated
• agitated
• allocated
• alternated