Latin

1 of 2

adjective

Lat·​in ˈla-tᵊn How to pronounce Latin (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, or composed in Latin
b
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

Examples of Latin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
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 The new album is out April 26 (via Republic Records and Universal Music Latin Entertainment). Matthew Strauss, Pitchfork, 22 Mar. 2024 The plans unveiled at Series Mania will see Max become available in 25 countries in Europe and 65 countries and territories worldwide, following its launch in the U.S. in May 2023, as well as in Latin America and the Caribbean earlier this year. Elsa Keslassy, Variety, 21 Mar. 2024 The nightclub was renamed the Latin Quarter and eventually shut down in the 1950s before reopening as the Hard Rock. Haadiza Ogwude, The Enquirer, 21 Mar. 2024 Netflix will stream those titles in Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Latin America, with subtitles in 28 languages and dubbed in up to 20 languages. Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Mar. 2024 Saad’s performance is uniquely infused with a Latin arrangement, courtesy of Spanish guitars, offering a fresh take on the original song. Hala Mustafa, Billboard, 27 Feb. 2024 The union’s workers mainly hail from countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, including Nicaragua, Honduras and Cuba. Syra Ortiz Blanes, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2024 Sci-fi can be a tough genre in some markets, such as parts of Latin America. Pamela McClintock, The Hollywood Reporter, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Latin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of Latin was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near Latin

Cite this Entry

“Latin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Latin. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Latin

1 of 2 adjective
Lat·​in ˈlat-ᵊn How to pronounce Latin (audio)
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
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