Word
redneck
Phoneticsred·neck, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɹɛdˌnɛk/
UK/ɹˈɛdnɛk/
Definitions
01rural white person
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Slang · American English · Informal
n. a rude name for a poor white person from a rural area, especially in the Southern US, who is seen as uneducated.
n. a derogatory epithet for a poor, rural white person, typically from the Southern US, often implying bigotry or lack of sophistication.
“He felt insulted when the city people called him a redneck just because of his accent.”
“The film was criticized for relying on tired stereotypes of the Southern redneck as a violent and uneducated antagonist.”
02relating to rural stereotypes
C1 · Advanced Slang · American English · Informal
adj. describing things or people that seem like they belong to poor, rural white culture in the US.
adj. characteristic of the perceived culture, attitudes, or lifestyle of rural, working-class white Southerners.
“The bar was full of guys in redneck hats drinking cheap beer.”
“The comedian's routine was built entirely on redneck humor, poking fun at his own upbringing in a small mountain town.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Usage
Often used as a pejorative by outsiders, though some individuals in rural communities have reclaimed the term as a self-descriptor of working-class identity.
Real-World Examples
“In 2005, after 13 years in the police force, Black officer George Washington Jonson finds himself in hot water when his redneck rookie partner shoots and kills a white teenager.” Etymology
Bahuvrīhi compound of red + neck. Compare rooinek. The term originally characterized farmers that had a red neck, caused by sunburn from long hours working in the fields.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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