niggard

1 of 2

noun

nig·gard ˈni-gərd

plural niggards

Synonyms of niggard next

see usage paragraph below

: a meanly covetous and stingy person : miser

niggard adjective

Usage of Niggard and Niggardly

The words niggard and niggardly are etymologically unrelated to the highly offensive and inflammatory racial slur euphemistically referred to as the N-word, despite the words' visual and auditory resemblance to it. Because of that resemblance, however, both niggard and niggardly are often taken to be offensive.

niggard

2 of 2

verb

niggarded; niggarding; niggards

intransitive verb

obsolete : to act niggardly

transitive verb

obsolete : to treat in a niggardly manner

Examples of niggard in a Sentence

Noun such a niggard that he refused to hand out candy at Halloween, saying it would cost too much money

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse hnøggr niggardly; akin to Old English hnēaw niggardly

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1596, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler

The first known use of niggard was in the 14th century

See more words from the same century

Cite this Entry

Style

“Niggard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/niggard. Accessed 25 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

niggard

noun

nig·gard

ˈnig-ərd

: a mean stingy person : miser

niggard adjective

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niggard

noun

verb

Synonyms

Examples of niggard in a Sentence

Word History

Dictionary Entries Near niggard

Cite this Entry