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Negress

American  
[nee-gris] / ˈni grɪs /

noun

Older Use: Usually Offensive.
  1. a term used to refer to a Black woman or girl.


Negress British  
/ ˈniːɡrɪs /

noun

  1. a female Black person

"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

Gender

See -ess.

Etymology

Origin of Negress

First recorded in 1780–90; from French négresse; see origin at Negro, -ess

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.

Their Instagram archive, Negress, which takes its name from artist Kara Walker’s landmark work, is meant to draw attention to Black women and femme identity — “because it’s unique,” says James.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2022

The opening Portrait of a Negress by Marie-Guillemine Benoist has been renamed Portrait of Madeleine for the show.

From BBC • Mar. 26, 2019

The New Negress Film Society is a collective of film-makers, including Ja’Tovia Gary, who use dreamlike elements, and which supports black female directors and artists.

From The Guardian • Dec. 6, 2018

One brilliant noon a comely Negress made her way to the waterside at Barbadoes, leading by the hand her nine-year-old boy.

From Time Magazine Archive

Henry Jenkins lived to 169; and we have on record the case of a Negress, aged 175.

From Curiosities of Medical Experience by Millingen, J. G. (John Gideon)

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