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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Known as the Black Princess, this mestiza (mixed-race woman) was feared as a landowner of various estates and hundreds of slaves. — Catherine Fairweather, Condé Nast Traveler, 20 Mar. 2024 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

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

Rhymes for mestiza

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Browse Nearby Words

mesteño
mestiza
mestization
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Cite this Entry

“Mestiza.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mestiza. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

mestiza

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

More from Merriam-Webster on mestiza

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mestiza

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