# redneck

/ˈɹɛdˌnɛk/ (US) · /ɹˈɛdnɛk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/redneck
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. rural white person

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · American English · Informal

a rude name for a poor white person from a rural area, especially in the Southern US, who is seen as uneducated.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Usually used as a disparaging term by outsiders, though sometimes reclaimed as a badge of pride by those it describes.

Teaching tip: This term is highly offensive to many and should be used with extreme caution; it is frequently used to mock the working class.

### 2. relating to rural stereotypes

adjective · CEFR C1 · Slang · American English · Informal

describing things or people that seem like they belong to poor, rural white culture in the US.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Often functions as an attributive adjective before a noun.

Teaching tip: In modern pop culture, especially country music, this adjective is sometimes used positively to mean 'authentic' or 'hard-working'.

## Examples

- He joked about being a redneck because he loves his old truck.
- The comedian built his entire career on stories about growing up as a proud redneck in a small mountain town.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.