ethnic

[eth-nik]

adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of a people, especially a group ethnic group sharing a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like.

2. referring to the origin, classification, characteristics, etc., of such groups.

3. being a member of an ethnic group, especially of a group that is a minority within a larger society.

   ethnic Chinese in San Francisco.

4. of, relating to, or characteristic of members of such a group.

5. belonging to or deriving from the cultural, religious, or linguistic traditions of a people or country.

   ethnic dances.

   Synonyms: indigenous, national, native

6. (of a human being) displaying characteristics, as in physical appearance, language, or accent, that can cause one to be identified by others as a member of a minority ethnic group.

   Her new boyfriend looks ethnic to me.

7. Obsolete.,  pagan; heathen.

noun

1. a member of an ethnic group.

ethnic

/ ˈɛθnɪk, ɛθˈnɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of a human group having racial, religious, linguistic, and certain other traits in common

2. relating to the classification of mankind into groups, esp on the basis of racial characteristics

3. denoting or deriving from the cultural traditions of a group of people

   the ethnic dances of Slovakia

4. characteristic of another culture

   the ethnic look

   ethnic food

noun

1. a member of an ethnic group, esp a minority group

Usage

Referring to a person as an ethnic is broadly acceptable in the US, Australia and Canada, but could well cause offence in the UK and elsewhere

Other Word Forms

• ethnically adverb
• interethnic adjective
• ethnicity noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of ethnic¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English ethnik “heathen,” from Late Latin ethnicus, from Greek ethnikós; ethno-, -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of ethnic¹

C14 (in the senses: heathen, Gentile): from Late Latin ethnicus, from Greek ethnikos, from ethnos race

Example Sentences

Thousands have died and millions have been displaced since 2021, when the army seized power, triggering a civil war with armed resistance groups and ethnic militias.

From BBC

Artists hail from various ethnic groups and Nigeria's huge diaspora gets a look-in as well.

From BBC

Assembly Bill 715 was among the most hotly contested education-related measures, spawning from dissatisfaction, largely among a coalition of Jewish groups, to the way ethnic studies has been taught in some California classrooms.

From Los Angeles Times

Observers said six women and 10 members of religious and ethnic minorities were among the 119 people elected to the new People's Assembly on Sunday.

From BBC

The Darfur war began after the Arab-dominated government at the time armed the Janjaweed, in an attempt to suppress an uprising by rebels from black African ethnic groups.

From BBC

Related Words

• indigenous 
• national 
• traditional 
• tribal