jungle fever

[ juhng-guhl fee-ver ]

noun

1. Pathology. a severe variety of malarial fever occurring in the East Indies and the tropics.
2. Slang: Sometimes Offensive. a person’s preference for a sexual or romantic relationship that is interracial, especially the preference of a white person for a Black partner.

jungle fever

noun

1. a serious malarial fever occurring in the East Indies

Word History and Origins

Origin of jungle fever¹

First recorded in 1795–1805, and in 1960–65 jungle fever fordef 2

Example Sentences

According to a planning document seen by Reuters, the dress code for this visit is "jungle fever".

From BBC

Work had to be stopped for months in between because of jungle fever, and later, heavy rains and flooding.

From BBC

One child, repeating a phrase she learned at home, told me my mother had “jungle fever,” because she was one of the white ladies who liked Black men.

From New York Times

Welsh, a Purple Heart recipient, was wounded twice and survived both malaria and a jungle fever in three island campaigns.

From Washington Times

It is not the enemy they need to fear, but the hot climate and the jungle fever, which will be more deadly than the kris of the Malay.

From Project Gutenberg