slur

Slur is a pejorative label applied to a person or group, designed to insult, stigmatize, or dehumanize. Slurs commonly target protected characteristics such as race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or nationality. They are distinguished from ordinary insults by their reference to group membership and the use of stereotypes to justify denigration. The term can also refer to a musical notation, but this article concerns the insult sense.

The word slur derives from the verb to slur, meaning to utter disparagingly or to obscure one's reputation; the noun form began appearing in English in the 19th century. In modern usage, slurs appear in speech, print, and digital media, including jokes, propaganda, and everyday conversations. Their acceptability varies across cultures, audiences, and power dynamics. While some argue that intent matters, many researchers and policy makers emphasize harm caused by slurs regardless of intent, and many platforms and institutions prohibit their use in prescribed contexts.

Impact can include social exclusion, fear, and reinforcement of discrimination. Slurs contribute to hostile environments in schools and workplaces and can be used to justify or intensify hate or violence. Legal responses vary by jurisdiction, with some countries treating certain slurs as hate speech or harassment under civil or criminal law, while others provide broader protections for free expression or place limits in specific settings.

Reclamation—where members of a stigmatized group adopt a slur as a term of empowerment—occurs in some communities but remains controversial and not universally accepted. Context, relationship, and the history of the term all influence whether a usage is considered acceptable.