Meaning & use

yellow bone

noun·Advanced

An informal, chiefly African American and South African slang term for a light-skinned Black person.

See it in a sentence

The song's lyrics describe a yellow bone woman with light, sun-kissed skin.

Some critics argue that praising a yellow bone appearance reinforces harmful colorism within the community.

A note on using this word

This term is considered sensitive by many because it can reinforce colorism, a bias favoring lighter skin tones within a community.

Words with a similar meaning

light-skinned

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Make it your own

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