mestiza

noun

mes·​ti·​za me-ˈstē-zə How to pronounce mestiza (audio)
plural mestizas
: a woman of mixed blood
specifically : a woman of mixed European and Indigenous American ancestry compare mestizo

Examples of mestiza in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web It’s a blending of cultures, a story of a romance between a male Chinese merchant and a mestiza woman. Lisa Deaderick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Dec. 2022 Still, mestiza seems to make the most sense out of the layers of my family’s murky history. Angie Jaime, Teen Vogue, 2 Aug. 2019 Some billboards displayed mestiza stars in glittering, celestial evening gowns. Melissa Pandika, The Cut, 31 Jan. 2018 According to Helland, Frida’s Mexicanidad and fascination with her mestiza (or mixed-ancestry) heritage lent itself to placing Aztec symbols, such as monkeys, skulls, and flowers, in many of her paintings. Isabella Gomez, Teen Vogue, 26 Jan. 2018 Juana Azurduy de Padilla (1781 - 1862) Born in Bolivia with Spanish and Indigenous blood, the mestiza warrior wanted, at first, to become a nun. Samantha Leal, Marie Claire, 28 July 2017

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mestiza.' 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

Spanish, feminine of mestizo

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of mestiza was in 1589

Dictionary Entries Near mestiza

Cite this Entry

“Mestiza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mestiza. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

mestiza

noun
mes·​ti·​za me-ˈstē-zə How to pronounce mestiza (audio)
: a woman who is a mestizo

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