caste system

American  

[kast sis-tuhm, kahst] / ˈkæst ˌsɪs təm, ˈkɑst /

noun

• caste systems
  plural

1. the rigid Hindu system of hereditary social distinctions based on castes.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• caste systems
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of caste system

First recorded in 1810–20

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

caste system

But he had also taught me some of Russian prison’s unwritten rules—and how I could avoid ending up in the lowest rung of its caste system.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026

But the caste system is very deeply rooted, said Gidion Mbilijora, who was the "bupati" or head of the East Sumba district for 13 years, and who owns two atas himself.

From Barron's ● Jul. 21, 2026

White working-class and precarious middle-class voters were alarmed not only at the upending of the racial caste system but also at what they saw as an unraveling of society in general.

From Salon ● May 6, 2026

This difference is despite seven decades of affirmative action, India's caste system - a four-fold hierarchy of the Hindu religion - remains deeply entrenched.

From BBC ● Nov. 14, 2024

"We're not in Bengal anymore. There's no caste system in America. The Declaration of Independence made it clear: 'All men are created equal.' And we'll be changing 'men' to 'people' soon."

From "You Bring the Distant Near" by Mitali Perkins

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