non-white, noun and & adjective
- Forms:
- Also with initial capital(s).
- Origin:
- Also used elsewhere. The term was used extensively in the past as a blanket term referring to those groups disadvantaged under apartheid.
obsolescent, offensive
A. noun One whose racial ancestry is not predominantly European; one who is dark-skinned; nie-blanke; non-European noun. Also attributive. Cf. black noun sense 1 c, non-black noun, white noun sense 2 a. See also N sense 1.
1934 A.J. Barnouw Lang. & Race Problems 29It is only in the Cape Province that distinction is made between natives and coloured people, and that the latter are given a privileged position...In the other Provinces all non-whites are counted among the natives.
1992 R.H. Du Pre Making of Racial Conflict 159If the non-whites threatened to penetrate the carefully constructed cocoon, he could easily form a laager and repel the threat.
B. adjective
1. Of a person or persons: of ancestry which is not predominantly European, being especially of African, Asian, or mixed ethnic descent; of a social group not considered part of the white group; non-European adjective sense 1. Cf. black adjective sense 3 a, non-black adjective.
1952 Drum July 21Those who are non-white have to travel a long distance indeed before they can enjoy a seaside picnic.
1994 B. Khumalo in Weekly Mail & Guardian 16 Sept. 26They thought it was an insult to call somebody ‘black’ so they came up with all sorts of euphemisms like ‘people of colour’ and ‘non-white’, thinking it was less offensive.
2. Of, pertaining to, meant for, or predominantly used by people whose racial ancestry is not European, or who are considered to be outside the white social group; non-European adjective sense 2.
1957 D. Jacobson Price of Diamonds 93Two young men..whose sensibilities had been offended by this raucous non-white voice entering the only way it could into their sanctuary.
1992 I. Manoim in Weekly Mail 24 Apr. 8The Cape Corps, for many years the only ‘non-white’ corps in the Defence Force, has been disbanded.
One whose racial ancestry is not predominantly European; one who is dark-skinned; nie-blanke; non-European noun. Also attributive.
of ancestry which is not predominantly European, being especially of African, Asian, or mixed ethnic descent; of a social group not considered part of the white group; non-European adjective sense 1.
Of, pertaining to, meant for, or predominantly used by people whose racial ancestry is not European, or who are considered to be outside the white social group; non-European adjective sense 2.
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