redneck

American  

[red-nek] / ˈrɛdˌnɛk /

Or red-neck

noun

1. an uneducated white farm laborer, especially from the South.

2. a bigot or reactionary, especially from the rural working class.

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adjective

1. Also red-necked narrow, prejudiced, or reactionary.

   a redneck attitude.

   Synonyms:

   intolerant, narrow-minded, biased

   Antonyms:

   impartial, unbiased, tolerant, broad-minded, open-minded, fair-minded

redneck British  

/ ˈrɛdˌnɛk /

noun

1. (in the southwestern US) a poor uneducated White farm worker

2. a person or institution that is extremely reactionary

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adjective

1. reactionary and bigoted

   redneck laws

redneck Cultural  

1. A slang term, usually for a rural white southerner who is politically conservative, racist, and a religious fundamentalist (see fundamentalism). This term is generally considered offensive. It originated in reference to agricultural workers, alluding to how the back of a person's neck will be burned by the sun if he works long hours in the fields.

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Sensitive Note

All the senses of this term are used with disparaging intent, implying negative stereotypical traits such as ignorance and narrow-mindedness.

Etymology

Origin of redneck

An Americanism dating back to 1820–30; red ¹ + neck

Compare meaning

How does redneck compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• hillbilly vs. redneck

Example Sentences

“I’m, I guess, like a redneck in Southern California,” he joked.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

A Tampa Ron De Santis, 54 - his family spells his name with a space between “De” and “Santis” - calls himself an Italian redneck from Winter Haven.

From Washington Times • Dec. 24, 2022

A Tampa Ron De Santis, 54 — his family spells his name with a space between “De” and “Santis” — calls himself an Italian redneck from Winter Haven.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 1, 2022

“Hell yes, I think I’m a redneck, but hell no, I’m not a Democrat or a Republican,” she said.

From New York Times • Oct. 8, 2022

He fiddled with the dial a moment, landing on some mariachi music that was as equally redneck and sappy in its own way as were the cowboy songs.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Related Words

• hick
• hillbilly