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Glite Dictionary
⛔ A hate group ⛔ A racist group
Klan

Klan

1 9.9
A secret group of white people in the United States that used violence to harm Black people
  • noun
  • /klæn/
  • Offensive
: Ku Klux Klan
  • Many historical accounts document the atrocities committed by the Klan against civil rights activists.

Thousands of people have been murdered, tortured, humiliated, mutilated by Klan violence.

Examples

  • Thousands of people have been murdered, tortured, humiliated, mutilated by Klan violence.

    YaleCourses

  • THIS GUY INFORMED ON THE KLAN.

    Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)

  • The terrorists take off their Klan clothes, put on some suits.

  • The Klan used intimidation and violence to control and terrorize Black communities in the South.

  • During the 20th century, the Klan organized rallies to spread their hateful ideology across the United States.

Synonyms

KKK
vsKlan
  • Offensive
37 9.9

A secret group of white people in the American South who used violence to scare and harm Black people

is the shorter letter form used for the same organisation
Ku Klux Klan
vsKlan
  • Offensive
36 9.8

A secret group that believes white people are better and uses violence against Black people and other groups

focuses on its origin as Southern resistance to emancipation and targeting Black people

Compounds

Ku Klux Klan
  • Offensive
36 9.8

A secret group that believes white people are better and uses violence against Black people and other groups

Surface Forms

Klan singular
Klans plural

Etymology

Klan comes from the same idea as the English word clan, which means a close 'family' or group. In the United States the full name Ku Klux Klan mixed a Greek word kuklos ('circle') with that idea to show a secret, united circle, and so Klan now means a secret society known for violent, racist acts.