r-word
/ˈɑɹ.wɝd/
Word Rarity
Common
Frequency: Zipf frequency 5.00 in modern English
9
Scrabble Score
5
Letters
3
Syllables
4
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The word redskin or redskins (including Redskins as a team name) regarded as a vulgar or taboo word.
noun
Any word beginning with r that is considered (often humorously) to be taboo in the given context.
Humorous
verb
To rape.
noun
Alternative letter-case form of r-word.
verb
Alternative letter-case form of r-word.
Example Sentences
- "I recently spoke supporting a new name for the President's Committee on Mental Retardation. I suggested it be changed to "President's Committee for People with Developmental Disabilities.""
- "The Tropic Thunder premiere presented a particularly strong opportunity for advocacy groups to make further progress on this front, because the R-word has played a major role in advance viral marketing for the prospective big-budget blockbuster.[…]"
- "The latest battle over the R-word kicked into high gear with a Jan. 26 Wall Street Journal report that last summer White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel blasted liberal activists unhappy with the pace of health-care reform, deriding their strategies as "[expletive] retarded.""
- "When people continue to use the 'R' word, it's hurtful," Seckler added."
- "Throughout 2025, influential public figures like Rogan, Musk and Kanye West have used the r-word on platforms where millions can see and hear them."
- ""Updike can use the `R' word" (rape, he meant) "to describe the love-making (sic) of the two Brazilians and get away with it.""
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈɑɹ.wɝd/
- British English: /ˈɑː.wɜːd/