mexican american: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to Formal
Quick answer
What does “mexican american” mean?
An American citizen or resident of Mexican origin or descent.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An American citizen or resident of Mexican origin or descent.
Relating to or characteristic of the cultural, social, and political experience of people of Mexican origin living in the United States, often encompassing a hybrid or dual identity.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively used in an American context. In British English, it would be understood but is rarely used; a more general term like 'of Mexican heritage' might be preferred.
Connotations
In American English, it carries specific cultural and demographic weight. In British English, it is a neutral descriptor of nationality and origin without the same socio-political resonance.
Frequency
Very high frequency in US English, particularly in academic, demographic, and cultural discourse. Very low frequency in UK English.
Grammar
How to Use “mexican american” in a Sentence
Mexican American + Noun (e.g., community)of + Mexican American + descent/origina/an + Mexican AmericanVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “mexican american” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
American English
- [Not applicable as a verb]
adverb
British English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
American English
- [Not applicable as an adverb]
adjective
British English
- The museum hosted an exhibition on Mexican American art.
American English
- She is a leading Mexican American politician.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in market segmentation, diversity reporting, and targeted advertising (e.g., 'the purchasing power of the Mexican American community').
Academic
Central term in Ethnic Studies, Sociology, History, and Cultural Studies (e.g., 'Mexican American literature of the 20th century').
Everyday
Used to describe personal or family background (e.g., 'I'm Mexican American, my parents were born in Guadalajara.').
Technical
Used in demographic data, census categories, and public health research to specify a sub-population.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “mexican american”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “mexican american”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “mexican american”
- Using 'Mexican' alone to refer to a US-born person of Mexican descent, which can be seen as erasing their American identity.
- Inconsistent capitalization ('mexican american').
- Assuming it is synonymous with all 'Latinos' or 'Hispanics'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Mexican American' is a general demographic term. 'Chicano' is a term of political and cultural identity that emerged from the Civil Rights Movement, often implying a activist or non-assimilationist stance and a connection to indigenous roots. Not all Mexican Americans identify as Chicano.
Both the hyphenated and open forms are accepted. Modern style guides (like APA) often recommend the open form for compound terms describing heritage (e.g., Asian American) to avoid implying a fragmented identity. The hyphenated form remains common, especially in adjective position.
Not exclusively. It can include naturalized US citizens from Mexico and their US-born descendants. The key is permanent residence and cultural/political affiliation with the US, combined with Mexican heritage.
'Latino' refers to people with origins in Latin America, which includes but is not limited to Mexico. 'Mexican American' is a more specific subset, referring only to those of Mexican origin within the United States.
An American citizen or resident of Mexican origin or descent.
Mexican american is usually neutral to formal in register.
Mexican american: in British English it is pronounced /ˈmek.sɪ.kən əˈme.rɪ.kən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈmek.sɪ.kən əˈmɛr.ə.kən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No common idioms for this specific term]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of the flag: the green, white, and red of Mexico combined with the stars and stripes of America.
Conceptual Metaphor
A BRIDGE or HYBRID, representing a connection between two cultures/nations.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'Mexican American' primarily used?