Ethnicity
/ɛθˈnɪsɪti/
Definitions
The fact or state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition.
/ɛθˈnɪsɪti/
A social group with a shared identity
The city is known for its rich diversity of ethnicities.
💡 Simply: Ethnicity is like your family's special story. It's about the group you belong to because you share the same culture, traditions, and sometimes even where your ancestors came from. Like, maybe your family always makes pasta from a special Italian recipe, or perhaps you have an amazing family that has an awesome celebration in their culture.
👶 For kids: It's like what kind of family you belong to. It might be about where your family came from or the special things they do.
More Examples
She is proud of her ethnicity and cultural heritage.
Understanding different ethnicities is crucial for promoting tolerance and understanding.
How It's Used
"Sociologists study the dynamics of different ethnicities within a society."
"Political tensions can arise from conflicts between different ethnicities."
"Anthropologists research the diverse traditions and practices of various ethnicities around the world."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms
Idioms & expressions
Ethnic cleansing
The systematic forced removal of ethnic or religious groups from a given territory by a more powerful ethnic group, often with the intent of making the area ethnically homogeneous.
"The term "ethnic cleansing" is used to describe the atrocities committed during the war."
Ethnic group
A community or population made up of people who share a common cultural background or descent.
"The census data recorded the different ethnic groups living in the country."
From Greek *ethnikos* meaning 'national' or 'of a people,' and later borrowed into Latin as *ethnicus*. The suffix '-ity' was added to create the abstract noun. It reflects the historical emphasis on shared cultural traits and ancestry.
The term gained prominence in the 20th century, particularly in the context of sociology and anthropology as a way to understand and categorize human populations.
Memory tip
Think of a shared heritage (like clothing styles, music, and language).
Word Origin
"Nation, people"