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Ebonics

American  
[ih-bon-iks] / ɪˈbɒn ɪks /
Or ebonics

noun

(used with a singular verb)
  1. African American Vernacular English.


ebonics British  
/ ɪˈbɒnɪks /

noun

  1. (functioning as singular) another name for African-American Vernacular English

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Ebonics

An Americanism first recorded in 1970–75; blend of ebony and phonics

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Next up was Micah Bournes, 35, who drove from Long Beach to perform “Native Tongue,” a spoken-word poem on cultural assimilation and Ebonics.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 21, 2023

The demand upholds the organization’s earlier statement that Ebonics communicates Black traditions and social truths.

From Textbooks Dec. 21, 2021

But, my mother upheld that if my brother and I negated these ill-formed pre-conceived notions by not speaking in Ebonics and studied hard, our lot in life would be easier.

From Time Jan. 30, 2015

But wait, what is African-American English exactly and isn’t it called Ebonics?

From Slate Feb. 27, 2012

But he knows this could be a controversial issue, reminiscent of the Ebonics debate decades ago.

From New York Times Feb. 4, 2012

In the 1970s, scholars settled on ebonics, a blend of the words ebony and phonics, “to give weight and validity to our particular dialect,” Harris said.

From Seattle Times Jun. 17, 2022

Many of Lee’s undisclosed writings touched on controversial topics, including affirmative action, politics on college campuses, abortion, gay rights and ebonics.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 11, 2019

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