noun
- Plural of kaffir; a historical and now offensive term formerly used to refer to people of African descent, particularly in South Africa.
Usage: offensive; archaic; dated; This term is considered highly derogatory and is no longer used in standard English except in historical contexts.
Examples
- The term 'kaffirs' appears in historical documents from the colonial period.
- Modern usage of this word is widely condemned as offensive and racist.
- Scholars studying apartheid-era South Africa may encounter this term in primary sources.