wetback
2 synonyms for wetback, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A dated, offensive slur for a Mexican or Central American migrant who has crossed into the US illegally.
Synonyms
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Etymology
Coined in the 1920s from the idea of migrants wading or swimming across the Rio Grande, and later used in the name of a 1954 US government deportation campaign.
Full origin of wetback →Frequently asked questions
What does “wetback” mean?
The word “wetback” means a dated, offensive slur for a Mexican or Central American migrant who has crossed into the US illegally. In plain terms, a historical, deeply offensive term for undocumented Mexican migrants — best known now, avoided in speech.
How do you pronounce “wetback”?
“Wetback” is pronounced WEHT-bak (/ˈwɛtbæk/ in IPA).
How do you use “wetback” in a sentence?
Here is “wetback” used in a sentence: “The term appears in older news reports but is now widely recognised as a slur and avoided.”
What part of speech is “wetback”?
“Wetback” is a noun.
Where does the word “wetback” come from?
The word “wetback” dates back to around 1954. Coined in the 1920s from the idea of migrants wading or swimming across the Rio Grande, and later used in the name of a 1954 US government deportation campaign.
Related words
illegal
illegal alien
