noun

coon

koon

Coon (noun) means (informal, especially US) A raccoon. Example: “A coon had gotten into the trash cans overnight.”

noun

(informal, especially US) A raccoon.

"A coon had gotten into the trash cans overnight."

(slang, offensive) A racial slur for a Black person.

"The word is now recognized as a deeply offensive racial slur and should be avoided entirely."

How to use coon

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishInformally, a shortening of "raccoon" — but the word also carries a well-known and highly offensive racist meaning, so it needs to be handled with real care.

When to use it

The racial slur sense is extremely offensive and should never be used; even the "raccoon" sense is best avoided in careful writing because of the overlap.

Word forms

cooned past tense, coons plural, Coons plural, coons singular

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Etymology

A shortened form of raccoon; the racist sense developed later as a derogatory extension.

Synonyms

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ringtail common racoon common raccoon

Related words

ringtail

Rhymes for coon

noon moon soon hoon toon poon foon goon loon boon woon doon

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Frequently asked questions

What does “coon” mean?

The word “coon” means (informal, especially US) A raccoon. In plain terms, informally, a shortening of "raccoon" — but the word also carries a well-known and highly offensive racist meaning, so it needs to be handled with real care.

How do you pronounce “coon”?

“Coon” is pronounced koon (/kun/ in IPA).

How do you use “coon” in a sentence?

Here is “coon” used in a sentence: “A coon had gotten into the trash cans overnight.”

What part of speech is “coon”?

“Coon” is a noun.

How many meanings does “coon” have?

“Coon” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: (informal, especially US) A raccoon.

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