hyphenated adjective Etymology: from past participle of hyphenate (I); from the use of hyphenated words (as German-American, Irish-American) to designate foreign-born citizens of the United States : of, relating to, or constituting a person or unit of mixed or diverse composition or origin < hyphenated Canadians — New York Herald > < hyphenated activity as both commercial florists and horticultural journalists — Richard Thruelsen >