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Definition of okie

okie

/ˈoʊ.ki/
o · kie
Plural:okies
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okie Lexical Profile

okie Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

American A native or inhabitant of the US state of Oklahoma (usually capitalized).

Example

"As a proud Okie, she cheered passionately for her home state's college teams."

2

American A migrant agricultural worker from Oklahoma or neighboring Great Plains states who fled the Dust Bowl for California during the 1930s (often historical and formerly derogatory).

Example

"John Steinbeck's novel chronicles the hardships faced by Dust Bowl Okies seeking work in California."

Synonyms
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• adjective

1

American Relating to or characteristic of the state of Oklahoma, its residents, or its culture (usually capitalized).

Example

"The festival celebrated traditional Okie folk music and regional cuisine."

Synonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

Usually capitalized as "Okie." While historically used as a disparaging term for impoverished migrant farmworkers during the 1930s Dust Bowl, it has since been reclaimed by many residents of Oklahoma as a badge of regional pride.

• Rhymes for okie

• Nearby Words

okay
okeydoke
okeydokey
okie
okinawa habu
oklahoma city
okra

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 20th century as an informal shortening of "Oklahoma" plus the diminutive suffix "-ie," and popularized nationally during the 1930s Great Depression and Dust Bowl migration.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Okie. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/okie
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