Negress

[ nee-gris ]

noun

, Older Use: Usually Offensive.

1. a term used to refer to a Black woman or girl.

Negress

/ ˈniːɡrɪs /

noun

1. a female Black person

Gender Note

See -ess.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Negress¹

First recorded in 1780–90; from French négresse; Negro, -ess

Example Sentences

The judge was an old white man who was calling Black plaintiffs in the case “Negresses.”

From Scientific American

Their Instagram archive, Negress, which takes its name from artist Kara Walker’s landmark work, is meant to draw attention to Black women and femme identity — “because it’s unique,” says James.

From Los Angeles Times

It was ten o’clock at night before we ventured to creep in again, and then she asked Joe why he hadn’t married a Negress Slave at once?

From Literature

He has one intransigent figure; she has one intransigent figure, the Negress, who is a witness to the spoils of profit, sexual and monetary, made on black backs.

From The New Yorker

“A Negress,” also known as “Portrait of Laure,” shows her wearing a white, off-the-shoulder blouse, a turban in red, yellow and green, a necklace and pearl earrings.

From Washington Post