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yellowface

American  
[yel-oh-feys] / ˈyɛl oʊˌfeɪs /

noun

  1. facial makeup used by a white, non-Asian actor or entertainer when portraying an East Asian.

    In Puccini's opera Madame Butterfly, the role of Cio-Cio San was performed in yellowface.

Etymology

Origin of yellowface

First recorded in 1850–55; yellow (in the sense “Asian”) + face ( def. )

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.

The role Wong auditioned for was ultimately given to Luise Rainer, a German-British actress who wore yellowface.

From Fox News • Jun. 7, 2020

And it was very common at the time for white actors to appear in yellowface.

From Fox News • Jun. 7, 2020

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.