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.
One last point: Research suggests that in addition to health care disparities, genetic components, and environmental impacts, socioeconomic factors may also contribute to the severity of eczema among Black and Latinx women. Lynya Floyd, Allure, 23 May 2025 Tricia McGhee, director of communications at Revolucion Educativa, a nonprofit that offers advocacy and support for Latinx families, has had that experience. Maria Benevento, Kansas City Star, 19 May 2025 For far too many youths, especially those from Black and Latinx communities on the South and West sides, opportunities are of reach. Tio Hardiman, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025 The Enrich program supports diverse senior managers, while Thrive focuses on Black and Latinx entry-level employees through leadership training and networking. Expert Panel®, Forbes, 21 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 28 May. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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