Jim Crow

or jim crow

Save This Word!

See synonyms for Jim Crow on Thesaurus.com

noun

a practice or policy of segregating or discriminating against Black people, as in public places, public vehicles, or employment.

Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a Black person.

adjective Sometimes Jim-Crow .

favoring or supporting a segregationist or discriminatory policy of Jim Crow.

for Black people only: a Jim Crow school.

QUIZ

GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!

Test how much you really know about regular and irregular plural nouns with this quiz.

Question 1 of 9

Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of Jim Crow

An Americanism dating back to 1830–40; so called from the name of a song sung by Thomas Rice (1808–60) in a minstrel show

Words nearby Jim Crow

Jilolo, Jilong, jilt, jilted, Jim, Jim Crow, Jim Crowism, Jim Crow law, jim-dandy, jim dash, Jiménez

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use Jim Crow in a sentence

“Barbarism,” said retired NYPD Officer Jim Smith on Thursday.
The Muslim Cop Killed by Terrorists|Michael Daly|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Michigan supposedly offered 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh a $42 million contract, which would him the highest-paid coach in the NCAA.
Is Any College Football Coach Worth $60 Million? Jim Harbaugh Is|Jesse Lawrence|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There was nothing out of the ordinary, but for the fact that Jim was gay.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything|Liz Seccuro|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I was bored, but I grabbed a red Solo cup, filled it with beer, and stayed with my group, chatting with the brothers about Jim.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything|Liz Seccuro|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Jim had to cajole me, as it was already late, and I was lounging around in sweats, book in hand.
I Was Gang Raped at a UVA Frat 30 Years Ago, and No One Did Anything|Liz Seccuro|December 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Not much use as the high crests hid the intervening hinterland from view, even from the crow's nests.
Gallipoli Diary, Volume I|Ian Hamilton
"So that is Jim Poindexter, the bloody villain," muttered the boy between his set teeth, and nervously fingering his revolver.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
The cat had been about to spring at Grandfather Mole again when Mr. Crow spoke to her.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
And he quite agreed with old Mr. Crow, who had come hurrying up to see what was going on.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey
Mr. Crow was rocking back and forth on his perch, for a joke—on anybody except himself—always delighted him.
The Tale of Grandfather Mole|Arthur Scott Bailey

British Dictionary definitions for Jim Crow

jim crow

/ (ˈdʒɪm ˈkrəʊ) /

noun (often capitals) US

the policy or practice of segregating Black people
(as modifier)jim-crow laws

a derogatory term for a Black person
(as modifier)a jim-crow saloon

an implement for bending iron bars or rails

a crowbar fitted with a claw

Derived forms of jim crow

jim-crowism, noun

Word Origin for jim crow

C19: from Jim Crow, name of song used as the basis of an act by Thomas Rice (1808–60), American entertainer

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

Cultural definitions for Jim Crow

Jim Crow

A descriptive term for the segregation of institutions, businesses, hotels, restaurants, and the like. It also refers to the laws that required racial segregation.