Hyphenated American.  An American who is referred to by a hyphenated term with the first word indicating an origin in a foreign country, and the second term being “American”, as Irish-American, Italian-American, African-American, Asian-American.  Used in reference to Americans of foreign birth or ancestry.  When used of Americans of European ancestry, it is often used to refer to those who have a strong attachment to the ancestral country or its culture.  It implies that the individual is imperfectly assimilated into American culture, and is sometimes used derogatively.

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