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nig·ger

(nĭg′ər)

n. Offensive Slang

a. Used as a disparaging term for a black person: "You can only be destroyed by believing that you really are what the white world calls a nigger" (James Baldwin).

b. Used as a disparaging term for a member of any dark-skinned people.

2. Used as a disparaging term for a member of any socially, economically, or politically deprived group of people.

[Alteration of dialectal neger, black person, from French nègre, from Spanish negro; see Negro.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

nigger

(ˈnɪɡə)

a. a Black person

b. (as modifier): nigger minstrels.

2. a member of any dark-skinned race

3. nigger in the woodpile old-fashioned offensive a hidden snag or hindrance

[C18: from C16 dialect neeger, from French nègre, from Spanish Negro¹]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

nig•ger

(ˈnɪg ər)

n.

usage.: The term nigger is now probably the most offensive word in English. Its degree of offensiveness has increased markedly in recent years, although it has been used in a derogatory manner since at least the Revolutionary War. Definitions 1a, 1b, and 2 represent meanings that are deeply disparaging and are used when the speaker deliberately wishes to cause great offense. Definition 1a, however, is sometimes used among African-Americans in a neutral or familiar way. Definition 3 is not normally considered disparaging - as in “The Irish are the niggers of Europe” from Roddy Doyle's The Commitments - but the other uses are considered contemptuous and hostile.

—n.

1. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive.

a. (a contemptuous term used to refer to a black person.)

b. (a contemptuous term used to refer to a member of any dark-skinned people.)

2. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. (a contemptuous term used to refer to a person of any race or origin regarded as contemptible, inferior, ignorant, etc.)

3. a victim of prejudice similar to that suffered by blacks; a person who is economically, politically, or socially disenfranchised.

[1640–50; < French nègre < Sp negro black]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

nigger - (ethnic slur) extremely offensive name for a Black person

jigaboo, nigra, coon, spade

derogation, disparagement, depreciation - a communication that belittles somebody or something

ethnic slur - a slur on someone's race or language

Black person, blackamoor, Negro, Negroid, Black - a person with dark skin who comes from Africa (or whose ancestors came from Africa)

Translations

لَقَب غَيْر مُهَذَّب للزِّنْجي

negr

nigger

Nigger

nègrenégro

nigger

surtur, niggari

juodukas

melnais

svarting

neger

zenci

黑鬼

nigger

[ˈnɪgəʳ] N (offensive) → negro/a m/f
to be the nigger in the woodpile (o.f.) → ser lo que lo estropea todo

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

nigger

[ˈnɪgə^r] n (offensive) → nègre (négresse)m/f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

nigger

n (very offensive) → Nigger m (very offensive); so you’re the nigger in the woodpile (Brit inf) → Sie sind es also, der querschießt; there’s a nigger in the woodpile (Brit inf) → irgendjemand schießt quer (inf); (= snag) → da ist ein Haken dran (inf)

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

nigger

[ˈnɪgəʳ] n (fam!, highly offensive) → negro/a

nigger

(ˈnigə) noun

an impolite name for a Negro.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

And Dag Daughtry had proved no exception from his first greeting of "Hello, you white man's dog, what 'r' you doin' herein nigger country?" Michael had responded coyly with an assumption of dignified aloofness that was given the lie by the eager tilt of his ears and the good-humour that shone in his eyes.

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Miss Watson's big nigger, named Jim, was setting in the kitchen door; we could see him pretty clear, because there was a light behind him.

Jim was monstrous proud about it, and he got so he wouldn't hardly notice the other niggers. Niggers would come miles to hear Jim tell about it, and he was more looked up to than any nigger in that country.

View in context

It was dat ole nigger preacher dat tole it, de time he come over here fum Illinois en preached in de nigger church.

I hates yo' pappy; he hain't got no heart--for niggers, he hain't, anyways.

View in context

Then there was something like a black shadow between us, and there was the nigger, looking more like a malignant devil than ever.

"Then Caswall slunk out, much as the nigger had done.

View in context

To use his own words, further, he said, "If you give a nigger an inch, he will take an ell.

View in context

"The government protects a nigger against a white every time.

Bertie did not see the bottle go off; but the mate opportunely discharging a stick of real dynamite aft where it would harm nobody, Bertie would have sworn in any admiralty court to a nigger blown to flinders.

View in context

Jerry had been born to hate niggers. His first experiences in the world as a puling puppy, had taught him that Biddy, his mother, and his father Terrence, hated niggers.

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"You mean honest, as niggers go," said Haley, helping himself to a glass of brandy.

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