noun Uncommon

cracker

KRA-kuh

Cracker (noun) means a thin, crisp, usually savory baked snack. Example: “She spread cheese on a cracker for the party tray.”

noun

A thin, crisp, usually savory baked snack.

"She spread cheese on a cracker for the party tray."

A small paper tube that pops and reveals a toy or prize, traditionally pulled apart at Christmas.

"Everyone pulled a cracker at the Christmas dinner table."

A firecracker.

"Kids set off crackers in the yard for the celebration."

Informal, often offensive: a poor white person from the southeastern United States, or, more broadly and offensively, any white person.

"The term "cracker" has a complicated and contested history in the American South."

How to use cracker

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA crisp baked snack, a Christmas party favor, a firecracker, or (as offensive slang) a term for a white person.

When to use it

The ethnic-slang sense is considered offensive by many and should be used carefully, if at all.

Common pairings

saltine cracker Christmas cracker graham cracker

Word forms

crackers plural

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She spread cheese on a _____ for the party tray.

Etymology

From "crack," referring to the sharp snapping sound — the biscuit sense is first recorded in the 1700s; the ethnic slang sense has several competing theories, including a link to whip-cracking cattle drivers in the South.

· First attested 1700

Class of 1700 cracker joined the language around 1700.

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Synonyms

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redneck snapper firecracker banger cracker bonbon

Related words

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Rhymes for cracker

acker hacker backer Packer slacker blacker attacker hijacker linebacker firecracker safecracker

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Frequently asked questions

What does “cracker” mean?

The word “cracker” means a thin, crisp, usually savory baked snack. In plain terms, a crisp baked snack, a Christmas party favor, a firecracker, or (as offensive slang) a term for a white person.

How do you pronounce “cracker”?

“Cracker” is pronounced KRA-kuh (/ˈkɹækə(ɹ)/ in IPA).

How do you use “cracker” in a sentence?

Here is “cracker” used in a sentence: “She spread cheese on a cracker for the party tray.”

What part of speech is “cracker”?

“Cracker” is a noun.

Where does the word “cracker” come from?

The word “cracker” dates back to around 1700.

Is “cracker” a common word?

“Cracker” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “cracker” have?

“Cracker” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thin, crisp, usually savory baked snack.

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