N-word

or n-word

[ en-wurd ]

noun

1. a euphemism for the word nigger : C-word, F-word, word ( def 2 ).

   His use of the highly offensive N-word during a televised broadcast caused outrage.

n-word

noun

1. the n-word offensive.
   sometimes capital a euphemistic way of referring to the word nigger

Usage Note

See nigger.

Word History and Origins

Origin of N-word¹

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

The depth of rage, animus and violence that was directed at him—“Spittle flying, the N word flying”—continues to astound him.

From The Daily Beast

Does the raucous, N-word riddled hip-hop spectacular live up to the hype?

From The Daily Beast

When Chappelle approached them, one of the kids threw a snowball at his face and called him the N-word.

From The Daily Beast

Those three are the f-word referring to gay men, the c-word referring to a female body part, and of course, the n-word.

From The Daily Beast

Affection, after all, is what the in-group use of the n-word expresses.

From The Daily Beast