Phrases
the N-word or less commonly the n-word
used euphemistically to refer to the word nigger
A suburban Philadelphia school expelled "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" from its curriculum over the book's overuse of the N-word.David K. Li

Examples of N-word in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Kendrick responds to that feedback on the album version, which trades his smooth vocals on the single version for a throatier delivery and cuts off the third verse for a clunky and misinformed skit about the etymology of the N-word. Stephen Kearse, Vulture, 4 Feb. 2025 On Thursday afternoon Los Angeles Superior Judge Mark Arnold told the court to stop saying the full N-word, legal affairs journalist Meghann Cuniff said in a livestream of the trial. Erin Keller, Newsweek, 30 Jan. 2025 In October 2019, Cuomo was criticized for using the N-word during a radio interview. Bertha Lewis, New York Daily News, 30 Jan. 2025 Some of McKenna’s white first-period students came into class early in the spring semester making offhand racist comments and using the N-word. Howard Blume, Los Angeles Times, 26 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for N-word 

Word History

First Known Use

1985, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of N-word was in 1985

Dictionary Entries Near N-word

Cite this Entry

“N-word.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/N-word. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!