yokel

[ yoh-kuhl ]

noun

, Informal

1. an unsophisticated person from a rural area; a country bumpkin.

yokel

/ ˈjəʊkəl /

noun

1. derogatory.
   (used chiefly by townspeople) a person who lives in the country, esp one who appears to be simple and old-fashioned

Derived Forms

• ˈyokelish, adjective

Other Words From

• yokel·ish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of yokel¹

First recorded in 1805–15; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of yokel¹

C19: perhaps from dialect yokel green woodpecker, yellowhammer

Example Sentences

“People see these as fundamentally silly and unserious beliefs and worldviews. They see a Q believer as a yokel or uninformed idiot.”

From Slate

Directed by Kenny Leon, it also gave its stars great, rangy roles to chew: Leslie Odom Jr. as the wolfish Purlie, a preacher who becomes, in essence, a prosecutor; and Kara Young, usually seen in dramas, as a daffy yokel finding the sweet spot where Lucille Ball meets Moms Mabley.

From New York Times

“My friends, this is a different governor’s campaign than we have ever seen before in our state because we are not up against a local yokel, Mississippi Democrat. We are up against a national liberal machine,” Reeves told more than 200 supporters at a campaign event in the Jackson suburb of Richland.

From Washington Times

“My friends, this is a different governor’s campaign than we have ever seen before in our state because we are not up against a local yokel, Mississippi Democrat. We are up against a national liberal machine,” Reeves told more than 200 supporters at a campaign event in the Jackson suburb of Richland.

From Seattle Times

She writes, “I think I’m a local yokel in my heart: Go to a place and love what you can experience there, but love your locals the rest of the time. The connections when we travel are so great, and the connecting with other diners and staff when I eat out in Seattle are half the experience, as well.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• boor
• country bumpkin