Coloreds

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The term used historically to refer to individuals of African descent in a segregated society
2. A potentially pejorative designation for people of color, particularly within contexts of racial discrimination
3. A term reflecting a specific racial categorization used during discussions of civil rights and social justice

Etymology: "Color" came into English from Old French "color," from Latin "color," meaning hue or complexion. The adjective "colored" was applied to people of African descent in the United States, and the plural noun "coloreds" grew from that use as a group label. The plural form marks it as a category applied to people collectively rather than a description of one person's skin. In the civil rights era, "colored" appeared on signs, forms and institutional names, including the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. In South Africa, "Coloured" became a formal legal classification under apartheid for people of mixed ancestry, a meaning separate from the American one. Both usages are now widely regarded as outdated, and the American sense is generally considered offensive.