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Definition of paleface

paleface

/ˈpeɪlfeɪs/
pale · face
Plural:palefaces
•
Adjective:palefaced
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paleface Lexical Profile

paleface Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A white person, especially as historically or stereotypically referred to by Native Americans in frontier literature and Westerns.

Example

"Early nineteenth-century frontier novels frequently depicted indigenous characters addressing European settlers as palefaces."

Word Nuance & Usage

Primarily associated with 19th-century frontier fiction and classic Westerns, the term is now outdated and carries stereotypical or mildly derogatory connotations outside of historical contexts.

• Nearby Words

palaver
palazzo
pale
paleface
palefaced
palely
palembang

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the early 19th century as a literary representation of Native American speech, popularized largely by the frontier novels of James Fenimore Cooper.

Cite this Entry

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