coolie

American  

[koo-lee] / ˈku li /

Also cooly

noun

Disparaging and Offensive.

1. an unskilled laborer, especially formerly in China and India.

2. an unskilled laborer employed cheaply, especially one brought from Asia.

3. a contemptuous term used to refer to an Asian, especially an Indian living in South Africa.

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adjective

1. Informal. characteristic of or suitable for a coolie.

   working for coolie wages.

coolie British  

/ ˈkuːlɪ /

noun

1. a cheaply hired unskilled Oriental labourer

2. derogatory an Indian living in South Africa

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Sensitive Note

Both meanings of “unskilled Asian laborer” are found almost exclusively in historical contexts, suggesting imperialistic exploitation of these workers. But coolie is still current as an insulting term used to refer to a person of Asian descent, especially in South Africa.

Etymology

Origin of coolie

First recorded in 1545–55; from Urdu kūlī, from Tamil kūli “hire, hireling”

Example Sentences

Nearly five decades and 170 films on, Rajinikanth's new film, Coolie, released on 14 August.

From BBC • Aug. 14, 2025

Decades later the Guyanese-American journalist Gaiutra Bahadur published the seminal book Coolie Woman, which brought much insight, but there have been few other notable works.

From The Guardian • Apr. 16, 2019

A restaurant called Ghazipur Opium Factory, or a series of airport lounges called Coolie Depots, an island resort called Prison Islands, or a gallery with Opium War memorabilia?

From New York Times • Sep. 24, 2011

The star nearly died following the accident on the set of the 1982 film Coolie.

From BBC • Apr. 25, 2010

The seventh edition was printed for Andrew Coolie in 1638, the eighth in 1650.

From Character Writings of the 17th Century by Various