cultural
Americanadjective
adjective
-
of or relating to artistic or social pursuits or events considered to be valuable or enlightened
-
of or relating to a culture or civilization
-
(of certain varieties of plant) obtained by specialized breeding
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of cultural
Explanation
The adjective cultural comes from the noun "culture" but has several, subtly different meanings, depending on context. The chief meaning is anything having to do human intellectual or creative output. The word cultural is often used as a synonym for "ethnic," as in, "cultural diversity," which means a variety of people. But it also means having to do with the arts and creativity. When you move, you'll want to move somewhere with a vibrant cultural life—lots of museums, libraries, and concert halls. In the middle is a term like "cultural anthropology," which is the study of a population's work, arts, lifestyles, and ways of interacting.
Vocabulary lists containing cultural
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Uganda's traditional kings have no formal political authority, but they retain cultural influence and command significant loyalty in the communities they lead.
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026
She also had vast, ongoing business operations, charitable ventures and a cultural legacy.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
The Wende’s Soviet Hippie collection contains ephemera that dovetails with the current moment, and aims to “illuminate the political and cultural changes of the past” and “offer opportunities to make sense of a changing present.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026
Younger generations are wary about the financial burden of marriage and raising children, while shifting cultural norms mean women no longer rely on marriage for economic security.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
“Um, excuse you, but Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon.”
From "On the Come Up" by Angie Thomas
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
