Brownface

Pronunciation: /braʊnfeɪs/

Definitions of brownface

noun a type of theatrical makeup used to darken the skin in order to portray a person of a different ethnicity

Example Sentences

A1 I saw a picture of someone wearing brownface at the party.

A2 The actor faced backlash for appearing in brownface in the movie.

B1 The use of brownface in the film was criticized for perpetuating stereotypes.

B2 The company issued an apology for their insensitive use of brownface in their advertisement.

C1 The debate over the ethics of brownface in media continues to be a controversial topic.

C2 The artist's controversial decision to use brownface in their performance sparked a heated discussion about cultural appropriation.

verb to darken one's skin using makeup in order to portray a person of a different ethnicity

Example Sentences

A1 She brownfaced her skin for the costume party.

A2 He brownfaced himself to look like his favorite actor.

B1 The actor was criticized for brownfacing in the movie.

B2 The controversy surrounding the use of brownface in the film sparked a heated debate.

C1 The director's decision to brownface the lead actor was met with backlash from the public.

C2 The issue of brownface in media representation continues to be a contentious topic in society.

Examples of brownface in a Sentence

formal The actor faced backlash for his use of brownface in the movie.

informal I can't believe he thought it was okay to do brownface for his costume.

slang That's so not cool, doing brownface like that.

figurative Using brownface is like painting a false image of oneself.

Grammatical Forms of brownface

• past tense: brownfaced
• plural: brownfaces
• comparative: more brownfaced
• superlative: most brownfaced
• present tense: brownface
• future tense: will brownface
• perfect tense: have brownfaced
• continuous tense: is brownfacing
• singular: brownface
• positive degree: brownface
• infinitive: to brownface
• gerund: brownfacing
• participle: brownfaced

Origin and Evolution of brownface

First Known Use: 1984 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'brownface' originated as a variation of 'blackface', which refers to the practice of non-black performers darkening their skin to portray black characters in a stereotypical and offensive manner.

Evolution of the word: Originally used in the context of racial caricature and discrimination, the term 'brownface' has evolved to encompass any instance of a non-brown person darkening their skin to portray a person of South Asian, Hispanic, or Middle Eastern descent. It is now widely recognized as a form of cultural appropriation and considered highly inappropriate and offensive.