Puerto Rican

noun

Puer·to Ri·can ˌpwer-tə-ˈrē-kən

ˌpȯr-tə-

plural Puerto Ricans

1

: a native or resident of Puerto Rico

2

: a person of Puerto Rican descent

Puerto Rican adjective

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of Puerto Rican was in 1864

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

Puerto Montt

Puerto Rican

Puerto Rico

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Puerto Rican.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Puerto%20Rican. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.

Copy Citation

Last Updated: 24 Feb 2026 - Entry added

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