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 "italian-american".
Usually, there were two to run the wagon in front of the New York Stock Exchange, two Italian-Americans, very jovial and quite dexterous.
The hero was Major-General Vincent Bertelli, a second generation street fighter of Italian-American descent.