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métis

person of mixed heritage

noun adjective meh-TEE Rare
People & Society Community

Origin: Old French mestis, from Late Latin mixticius (mixed)

Also means

mixed-race

Usage Note

Métis historically described a person of mixed European and Indigenous American descent, but in modern French it broadly refers to someone of mixed ethnic heritage. The feminine form is métisse, and the plural métis/métisses. The verb métisser means 'to mix or blend' cultures or lineages, and métissage is the noun for cultural or genetic blending.

Examples

"Cette société est fière de son métissage."

Natural Translation

This society is proud of its mixed heritage.

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