In some Latin American countries, such as Mexico, the concept of the mestizo became central to the formation of a new independent identity that was neither wholly Spanish nor wholly indigenous, and the word mestizo acquired its current meaning, it being used by the government to refer to all Mexicans who do not speak indigenous languages, including people of complete European or indigenous descent as well as Asians and Africans.
Nalgúns países de América Latina, como en México, o concepto de "mestizo" foi fundamental para a formación da nova identidade independente que non era nin totalmente española nin totalmente indíxena, e a palabra mestizo adquire o seu significado actual, que é empregado polo goberno para referirse a tódolos mexicanos que non falan linguas indíxenas, incluíndo xente de ascendencia totalmente europea e indíxena, ou mesmo asiáticos e africanos.