blackamoor: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Low (Archaic/Obsolescent)Archaic, Historical, Offensive
Quick answer
What does “blackamoor” mean?
An archaic and now offensive term for a dark-skinned person, especially from Africa.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An archaic and now offensive term for a dark-skinned person, especially from Africa.
Historically, it referred to African servants or slaves depicted in European art and decoration. It can also refer to a decorative figure, often in sculpture or jewelry, representing a Black African, typically from Renaissance or Baroque periods.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Equally archaic and offensive in both varieties. Slightly more likely to be encountered in British English in discussions of antique 'blackamoor' figures or statuettes.
Connotations
Profoundly racist connotations in all contexts. Carries historical weight of slavery, colonialism, and dehumanization.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary language. Its appearance is almost exclusively in historical texts, catalogs of antiques, or critical discourse.
Grammar
How to Use “blackamoor” in a Sentence
[Adjective] blackamoor (e.g., 'a carved blackamoor')blackamoor [of Noun] (e.g., 'blackamoor of ivory')Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used only in historical, art historical, or critical race studies to discuss racist iconography and terminology. Must be flagged as offensive.
Everyday
Never appropriate for use.
Technical
May appear in antique dealer terminology (though increasingly avoided) to describe a specific style of decorative object.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blackamoor”
- Using it as a neutral synonym for a Black person.
- Failing to recognise its offensive nature.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not in general usage. It is considered deeply offensive and racist. Its only potential justification is within tightly framed academic or historical analysis of the term itself, and even then it must be clearly flagged as offensive.
It is a decorative object, often made of materials like porcelain, ivory, or ebony, depicting a stylized and frequently subservient figure of a Black African. These were popular in Europe from the Renaissance through the 19th century and are now viewed as symbols of racist stereotyping.
It is a 16th-century compound of 'black' and the archaic 'Moor' (meaning a Muslim inhabitant of North Africa or the Iberian Peninsula).
In historical description, use precise, neutral language: 'a decorative figure of an African page', 'a statuette depicting a Black servant'. For contemporary references to people, use standard, respectful terms like 'Black person', 'African person', etc., as appropriate.
An archaic and now offensive term for a dark-skinned person, especially from Africa.
Blackamoor is usually archaic, historical, offensive in register.
Blackamoor: in British English it is pronounced /ˈblakəmʊə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈblækəˌmʊr/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'BLACK' + 'aMOOR' (an archaic word for a Muslim, often from North Africa). It combines two terms pointing to dark skin and foreign origin, now frozen in historical offensiveness.
Conceptual Metaphor
PERSON IS OBJECT (dehumanizing, decorative object).
Practice
Quiz
In which context might the word 'blackamoor' be encountered, albeit problematically?