Phrases
the N-word or less commonly the n-word
used euphemistically to refer to the word nigger
A suburban Philadelphia school expelled "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" from its curriculum over the book's overuse of the N-word.David K. Li

Examples of N-word in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The defense played for the jury tapes of the prosecution’s star witness, LAPD homicide detective Mark Fuhrman, casually using the N-word while describing tales of police delivering beatings, falsifying arrests, planting evidence and generally singling out minorities for harsh and brutal treatment. Libor Jany, Los Angeles Times, 13 Apr. 2024 Following another one of Wallen's past controversies when a video of himself saying the N-word surfaced online in early 2021, Church spent time with the rising hitmaker by going fishing. Sadie Bell, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024 Wallen has made his return to the music scene following the February 2021 video in which he was heard yelling the N-word and other expletives. Jackie Strause, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Apr. 2024 The N-word appeared to have been used multiple times, Coeur d’Alene Police Capt. David Hagar said. Emma Epperly, Idaho Statesman, 4 Apr. 2024 Utah athletics officials have said that while the basketball team, band members and cheerleaders were going out to dinner on the night of March 21, a driver revved their engine and yelled the N-word at the group. Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024 The slurs often included the use of the N-word and other derogatory terms for Black people, according to an FBI witness who examined the men's social media pages. CBS News, 27 Mar. 2024 In an interview with CNN affiliate KSL, Green said that the N-word had been shouted at the team on each of the two occasions. George Ramsay, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024 Students who were watching called out the male student for pushing the girl first and using the N-word against her. Sarah Ritter, Kansas City Star, 22 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'N-word.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of N-word was in 1985

Dictionary Entries Near N-word

Cite this Entry

“N-word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/N-word. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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