blacky
Blacky (noun) means (dated, often offensive) A term historically used to refer to a Black person; now widely considered derogatory and avoided. Example: “Older texts from the era sometimes used "blacky" in ways that read as jarring and offensive today.”
How to use blacky
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA word with a genuinely offensive historical use referring to race, which is why it is now avoided; separately, it survives as a harmless nickname for people surnamed Black.
Word forms
blackies plural
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Older texts from the era sometimes used "_____" in ways that read as jarring and offensive today.
Etymology
From black plus the diminutive suffix -y, originally used casually but now recognized as carrying a dated, offensive edge in its racial sense.
Rhymes for blacky
See all rhymes for blacky →Frequently asked questions
What does “blacky” mean?
The word “blacky” means (dated, often offensive) A term historically used to refer to a Black person; now widely considered derogatory and avoided. In plain terms, a word with a genuinely offensive historical use referring to race, which is why it is now avoided; separately, it survives as a harmless nickname for people surnamed Black.
How do you pronounce “blacky”?
“Blacky” is pronounced BLA-kee (/ˈblæki/ in IPA).
How do you use “blacky” in a sentence?
Here is “blacky” used in a sentence: “Older texts from the era sometimes used "blacky" in ways that read as jarring and offensive today.”
What part of speech is “blacky”?
Depending on how it is used, “blacky” can be a noun and a name.
How many meanings does “blacky” have?
“Blacky” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (dated, often offensive) A term historically used to refer to a Black person; now widely considered derogatory and avoided.