Injuns

Injuns is an archaic and offensive term used in English to refer to Indigenous peoples of the Americas, especially Native peoples of what is now the United States. The word is a phonetic rendering of Indians and appeared in popular slang and print from the 18th century onward. In the United States, it circulated in newspapers, dime novels, frontier slang, and entertainment such as Wild West shows and Western films. The term is widely regarded today as a pejorative stereotype that dehumanizes Indigenous peoples by reducing diverse nations to a caricature.

Its usage varied from casual to hostile, and it was used to justify or mock Indigenous cultures and resistance. Modern scholarly and journalistic standards treat Injuns as a slur; for this reason, it is generally avoided in respectful discourse and in education about Indigenous peoples. In archival material and some historical fiction, it may appear, reflecting attitudes of the period.

The term should not be confused with respectful terms; contemporary references favor Indigenous peoples or the specific tribal names. Related terms include Injun and other slurs that appeared in 19th- and early 20th-century American media, illustrating the history of stereotypes in representations of Indigenous peoples.