mulatto

/məˈlɑɾoʊ/

/məˈlɒtəʊ/

Other forms: mulattoes; mulattos

The noun mulatto is an outdated term for someone with one black parent and one white parent. This word is now considered to be offensive.

It was common to describe a person with both black and white ancestry as a mulatto during the period of slavery in the United States. Because of its dehumanizing roots and usage, this word has fallen out of favor. Today, people are more likely to use terms like multiracial or mixed race — or simply to identify their specific cultural and ethnic heritage.

Definitions of mulatto

1. noun

   (offensive) outdated term for a person with both black and white ancestry, especially someone with one black parent and one white parent
   type of:

   mixed-blood

   a person whose ancestors belonged to two or more races