The Collaborative International Dictionary
Hyphenated American \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.
Usage examples of "asian-american".
The AFL-CIO put on hundreds of new organizers to work among Latinos, African-Americans, and Asian-Americans.
When was the last time you saw an Asian-American male in a major role that didn’t involve him kicking or shooting the bejeezus out of somebody?
David Sullivan, the Asian-American Irishman, could have been the spokesperson and poster model for bad hair days.