greaser

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A young person, especially in 1950s America, who belonged to a working-class style group with leather jackets and greased-back hair.

   Grammar: Countable: one greaser, two greasers.

   The film's hero is a greaser who races cars and clashes with richer kids.

   In old photos, the greasers stand with slicked-back hair and cigarettes.

   He dressed as a greaser for the costume party.

2. 2nouncountableoffensive

   An offensive term for a Mexican or other Spanish-speaking person.

   Grammar: Countable but almost always used in the singular as a direct insult.

   The word is a slur and should not be used to describe people.

   He was criticized for using a racial slur after calling his neighbor a greaser.

Word forms

Common combinations

1950s greaser

The diner is decorated with pictures of 1950s greasers.

greaser style

His greaser style includes a leather jacket and boots.

greaser subculture

The greaser subculture faded by the 1960s.

Synonyms and how they differ

rock

In British English, 'rock' can mean a similar 1950s youth style, but it is less common in American English.

hood

Informal and dated; it emphasizes a tough or criminal youth rather than the specific style.

Word family

grease noun

Thick oil or fat, especially in cooking.

greasy adjective

Covered with or containing a lot of oil or fat.

Commonly confused: greaser or Greece?

Practice

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