Vocabulary
Bigot meaning: tone, grammar, and respectful use
Sign in to saveBigot is a serious word. Before using it about a person, be able to identify the belief, statement, action, or repeated pattern that supports your description.
Understand bigot and bigoted, use their noun and adjective patterns accurately, and discuss prejudice with clear evidence and respectful language.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
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bigot /ˈbɪɡ.ət/
The short answer
A bigot is a person who holds strongly prejudiced and intolerant views about other people. Bigoted is the usual adjective for a remark, policy, belief, or behavior that shows that prejudice.
The report examined bigoted remarks directed at members of a religious group.
Why it works: Bigoted describes particular remarks, and the sentence identifies the group and material being examined.
5 more examples
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The historian described the law as bigoted because it denied equal rights to one religious community.
The sentence attributes the judgment to the historian and states the reason for it.
Not this:The historian described the law as
unpopularbecause many voters opposed it. What changes: Unpopular means that many people oppose something. It does not identify prejudice or intolerance. -
The editor removed bigoted language from the letter before it was issued.
Bigoted is an adjective that describes specific language in the letter.
Not this:The editor removed
unclear languagefrom the letter before it was issued. What changes: Unclear language may confuse readers, but it does not necessarily express prejudice. -
The witness called him a bigot after quoting several comments about immigrant families.
Called attributes the description to the witness, and the sentence points to the evidence being discussed.
Not this:The witness called him
difficultafter a tense meeting. What changes: Difficult can describe behavior in one situation. Bigot makes a more serious claim about prejudice. -
The article criticized bigoted assumptions about disabled workers' abilities.
The sentence identifies the assumption and the people affected by it.
Not this:The article criticized
old assumptionsabout disabled workers' abilities. What changes: Old only tells the reader when an assumption began. It does not say whether the assumption is prejudiced. -
She disagreed with the speaker, but she did not call him a bigot without more evidence.
The sentence distinguishes disagreement from a justified claim about prejudice.
Not this:She disagreed with the speaker and
called him wrong. What changes: Wrong challenges an idea. Bigot labels a person as prejudiced and needs stronger context.
Read the full guide
Start with the grammar. Use a bigot as a countable noun for a person. Use bigoted before a noun when you describe a statement, rule, assumption, or action. Then ask whether your sentence gives the reader enough context to understand why the term is being used.
Start with the serious meaning
A bigot is not simply someone with a strong opinion. The word refers to a person whose views show strong, unreasonable prejudice or intolerance toward other people. It often concerns people who are treated differently because of their identity, religion, background, or beliefs.
The class discussed how bigotry can appear in rules that exclude people from public life.
The sentence is about exclusion based on prejudice, not an ordinary argument.
Does bigot mean any person who disagrees with you?
No. It refers to serious prejudice or intolerance, so the context must show more than disagreement.
Use bigot as a countable noun
Bigot is a countable noun for a person. A singular noun usually needs an article or determiner: a bigot, the bigot, or that bigot. Use bigots for more than one person.
The novel presents a bigot whose comments isolate his neighbors.
A comes before the singular countable noun bigot.
The documentary examines several bigots from the period.
Several takes the plural noun bigots.
Which phrase is grammatical: he is bigot or he is a bigot?
Use he is a bigot when bigot is a singular countable noun.
Use bigoted before a noun
Bigoted is the usual adjective. It can describe language, beliefs, behavior, assumptions, policies, or comments. This form lets you identify the particular thing that shows prejudice rather than making a vague label about a person.
The committee rejected a bigoted proposal that excluded applicants because of their nationality.
Bigoted modifies proposal, while the rest of the sentence explains the exclusion.
Which word naturally describes remarks: bigot or bigoted?
Use bigoted remarks. Bigoted is the usual adjective.
Name the evidence behind the word
A careful sentence does more than apply a label. It identifies what was said, written, decided, or repeatedly done. It may then explain why that material is being described as bigoted. This helps readers assess the claim for themselves.
The complaint quoted statements that claimed one ethnic group was less capable than another.
The sentence gives the reader the type of statement under discussion.
The reviewer described the statements as bigoted because they ranked people by ethnicity.
Because introduces the reviewer's stated reason for the judgment.
What should a careful claim about bigotry include?
Include the relevant words, action, or pattern, then explain or attribute the judgment.
Attribute a judgment when needed
When you report another person's view, use reporting verbs such as called, described, argued, or criticized. These verbs show whose judgment the reader is hearing. They are useful in journalism, academic writing, and summaries of a dispute.
Several residents described the campaign message as bigoted at the public meeting.
Described tells the reader that the evaluation came from the residents.
The researcher argued that the rule reflected bigoted assumptions.
Argued makes clear that this is the researcher's interpretation.
Why use a verb such as described or argued?
It identifies who made the evaluation and keeps your report accurate.
Choose a proportionate description
Choose the word that matches the evidence. Prejudiced can be useful when a belief or action unfairly judges a group. Intolerant may fit someone who refuses to accept differences. Rude, dismissive, inaccurate, or narrow-minded may be better when the evidence does not establish serious prejudice. Bigot is not a substitute for explaining a disagreement.
The manager was dismissive during the interview, but the record gave no evidence of prejudice against a group.
Dismissive is more accurate when behavior is disrespectful but its motive is not clear.
The report documented a pattern of bigoted comments about a minority community.
Pattern and comments give the reader a basis for the more serious description.
When should you avoid calling a person a bigot?
Avoid it when you cannot point to enough context or evidence of serious prejudice or intolerance.
Before you go
Remember this
Use bigot as a countable noun for a person with strongly prejudiced and intolerant views. Use bigoted as an adjective for language, assumptions, policies, or behavior that shows that prejudice. The word is serious, so give a specific context and evidence instead of using it for ordinary disagreement.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Bigot meaning: tone, grammar, and respectful use"
What does bigot mean?
A bigot is a person with strongly prejudiced and intolerant views about other people. The word is serious, so use it when the context shows more than an ordinary disagreement or different opinion.
The historian described the law as bigoted because it denied equal rights to one religious community.
Is bigot a noun or an adjective?
Bigot is usually a countable noun, as in a bigot or several bigots. Bigoted is the usual adjective, as in bigoted remarks, bigoted assumptions, or a bigoted policy.
The historian described the law as unpopular because many voters opposed it.
Does bigot mean the same as rude?
No. Rude behavior can be offensive without showing prejudice. Bigot makes a more serious claim about strong intolerance or prejudice toward people, so it needs clear context and evidence.
The editor removed bigoted language from the letter before it was issued.
How can I use bigoted in a careful sentence?
Name the statement, action, or policy you mean, then explain why it is prejudiced or attribute the judgment. For example, a writer may describe remarks as bigoted after quoting their treatment of a group.
The editor removed unclear language from the letter before it was issued.
Should I call someone a bigot after one disagreement?
Usually no. A disagreement, a mistake, or an impolite comment does not by itself establish serious prejudice. In careful writing, identify the relevant language, behavior, or repeated pattern before using the term.
The witness called him a bigot after quoting several comments about immigrant families.