coolie

noun

coo·​lie ˈkü-lē How to pronounce coolie (audio)
usually offensive
: an unskilled laborer or porter usually in or from the Far East hired for low or subsistence wages

Examples of coolie in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Rajinikanth features in the lead role of a coolie in the film which also stars Nagarjuna Akkineni, Sathyaraj, Upendra and Shruti Haasan. Sweta Kaushal, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Hindi & Urdu qulī

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coolie was in 1622

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coolie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coolie. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

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