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lightskin. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
lightskin, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
lightskin in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
lightskin you have here. The definition of the word
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English
Etymology
From light + skin.
Noun
lightskin (plural lightskins)
- A black person who has relatively light-coloured skin.
- Synonym: fair-skinned
- Antonym: darkskin
1941, W. Lloyd Warner, Buford H. Junker, Walter A. Adams, “Lightskin Women”, in Color and Human Nature: Negro Personality Development in a Northern City, Washington, D.C.: American Council on Education, page 193:A man who is getting ahead tends to seek a lighter mate, and because “a good man is hard to find,” it would be difficult for a lightskin girl consistently to reject darker people. A darker man who offers security, through social position and other advantages, may well be preferred to a lightskin man of little enterprise.
- 2024 (October 8) on WWE NXT, NXT champion Trick Williams replying to former North American Champion Wes Lee after being interrupted:
- Woah, hold on there lightskin. Now your accolades should speak for themselves, but I know your type, dog!
Usage notes
Sometimes used in a derogatory sense to describe a black person (of any skin colour) who acts in an effeminate manner.
Derived terms