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
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As Lindo and Jordan were introducing the visual effects category, Scottish campaigner John Davidson, who has Tourette syndrome, blurted out the N-word. Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2026 On a WhatsApp group chat, a BAFTA representative raised the alarm about an N-word being audible, but sources said that this was only after Mosaku had left the stage. Jake Kanter, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026 In a video obtained by Radar Online last month, Curtis is heard blurting out the N-word while on set. Christina Dugan Ramirez, FOXNews.com, 11 Mar. 2026 Why did Arquette randomly decide to bring N-word discourse into a conversation about her whole career in an interview pegged to The Moment? Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 10 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for N-word

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

“N-word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/N-word. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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