pidgin English

noun

often capitalized P
: an English-based pidgin
especially : one originally used in parts of east Asia

Examples of pidgin English in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Even then, the casual denigration of Native American characters who were depicted in the script as playing tom-toms, holding powwows and speaking in pidgin English raised eyebrows. Mary Carole McCauley, Baltimore Sun, 21 Feb. 2024 Others railed against the slapstick antics and pidgin English of Jar Jar Binks (Ahmed Best), hyped as the first-ever CG main character in a live-action movie. Angelique Jackson, Variety, 11 May 2024 The phrase ‘chop time, no friend’ is in pidgin English, often plastered on busses in Ghana, Eazi tells Rolling Stone. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 18 July 2023 There are versions in local pidgin English, Hausa, Kanuri and Fulani. Reuters, NBC News, 22 Sep. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pidgin English.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Chinese Pidgin English pidgin business

First Known Use

1836, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pidgin English was in 1836

Dictionary Entries Near pidgin English

Cite this Entry

“Pidgin English.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pidgin%20English. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

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