noun / adjective
mulatto
muh-LAH-toh/məˈlɑːtəʊ/
An outdated, offensive term for a person of mixed Black and white ancestry or for that ancestry.
The census used the now-offensive label mulatto.
Etymology
The source word meant “young mule” or “of mixed breed”; its application to people may refer to the mule's hybrid parentage. It is now an outdated label for mixed Black and white ancestry.
In context
The term mulatto, used to describe people of mixed black and white ancestry, has its roots in European colonialism.
More examples
- She quoted mulatto only when discussing the document's racist classifications.
- The historian explained why mulatto was an inappropriate modern label.
- An editorial note identified mulatto as outdated and offensive.
Forms
mulatto
Similar words
- biracial
- Biracial is a broader contemporary term and does not specify which two racial backgrounds.