cigar-store indian: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowHistorical, informal, potentially offensive
Quick answer
What does “cigar-store indian” mean?
A carved wooden statue of a Native American man, traditionally displayed outside tobacco shops in North America as a form of advertising.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A carved wooden statue of a Native American man, traditionally displayed outside tobacco shops in North America as a form of advertising.
A term that now primarily refers to the antiquated, stereotypical wooden statues themselves, often seen as culturally insensitive relics. By extension, it can describe any static, silent, or inanimate figure used for decoration or advertisement, or a person who is present but does not participate or speak.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is almost exclusively American in origin and primary usage, referring to a specific piece of American commercial history. In British English, the concept is unfamiliar, and the term would likely be understood only in a historical or culturally descriptive context.
Connotations
In American English, it evokes a specific, if problematic, period of 19th and early 20th-century advertising and cultural representation. In British English, it lacks this cultural resonance and would be seen as an obscure Americanism.
Frequency
Extremely rare in contemporary British English. Low and declining in American English, primarily found in historical discussions, critiques of stereotypes, or antique collecting contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “cigar-store indian” in a Sentence
served as a [cigar-store Indian]was decorated with a [cigar-store Indian]stood like a [cigar-store Indian]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cigar-store indian” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The antique shop had a faded American cigar-store Indian in the corner, a curious relic to British visitors.
- In his lecture on American popular culture, the professor showed a slide of a cigar-store Indian.
American English
- The old pharmacy on Main Street still had its original cigar-store Indian on the porch.
- He remained as silent and motionless as a cigar-store Indian throughout the entire meeting.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used in modern business contexts except perhaps in historical analysis of marketing.
Academic
Used in American studies, history, anthropology, and cultural criticism to discuss stereotypes, advertising history, and representation of Indigenous peoples.
Everyday
Rare. May be used by older generations or in antique collecting circles. Figurative use ('silent as a cigar-store Indian') is dated.
Technical
Not a technical term. Used descriptively in art history, museum studies, or cultural heritage discussions.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cigar-store indian”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cigar-store indian”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cigar-store indian”
- Misspelling as 'cigar-store indian' (lowercase 'i') is common but 'Indian' is typically capitalized as part of the fixed phrase.
- Using the term in a neutral or positive way without awareness of its offensive connotations.
- Confusing it with other types of trade signs, like barber poles or pawnbroker's balls.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, by many people, especially Native Americans and those aware of cultural sensitivity. It refers to a stereotypical and commercialized caricature. Its use today should be cautious, contextual (e.g., historical discussion), and with an understanding of its problematic nature.
Primarily in museums (like the Smithsonian), private collections, antique shops, or as preserved fixtures on historic buildings. They are no longer used as contemporary advertisements.
They are essentially synonymous. 'Wooden Indian' is a more general term, while 'cigar-store Indian' specifies its original commercial function and location.
No, it is almost exclusively a compound noun. The figurative usage ('he cigar-store Indianed his way through the meeting') is non-standard and highly unlikely. The descriptive behavior is 'stood/sat like a cigar-store Indian'.
A carved wooden statue of a Native American man, traditionally displayed outside tobacco shops in North America as a form of advertising.
Cigar-store indian is usually historical, informal, potentially offensive in register.
Cigar-store indian: in British English it is pronounced /sɪˈɡɑː stɔːr ˈɪn.di.ən/, and in American English it is pronounced /sɪˈɡɑr stɔːr ˈɪn.di.ən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Stand/sit like a cigar-store Indian (to be motionless and silent)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a shop selling CIGARs, with a STORE front, and a carved wooden figure of an INDIAN man standing beside the door, holding cigars or a tobacco leaf.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON IS AN OBJECT / SILENCE IS STATUESQUE (for the figurative usage).
Practice
Quiz
In a figurative sense, what does it mean if someone is described as 'a cigar-store Indian' in a meeting?