noun

wog

noun

An ethnic slur used, mainly in British and Australian English, for people of certain non-white or Mediterranean backgrounds.

"The word "wog" is considered highly offensive and is best avoided entirely."

A minor illness, such as a cold or stomach bug (informal, chiefly British).

"He's been off work all week with some kind of wog."

How to Use Wog

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA racial slur in its main sense; separately, informal British slang for a minor illness like a cold.

When to use it

The ethnic sense is a slur and offensive in virtually all contexts — this entry documents the word, it does not endorse its use.

Word Forms

wogged past tense, wogs plural, wogs plural, Wogs plural, wogs singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “wog” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The word "_____" is considered highly offensive and is best avoided entirely.

Etymology

Origin uncertain; the most widely accepted theory traces it to a shortening of "golliwog," a doll character from a 19th-century children's book, though several unproven acronym stories also circulate.