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caste system

American

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

noun

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

Etymology

Origin of caste system

First recorded in 1810–20

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.

It’s not a caste system where only undocumented people do some things and only documented people or citizens do others.

From Slate • Sep. 15, 2025

Throughout his career, he fought to reform Hindu laws of the time on marriage and women's rights and to abolish the caste system.

From BBC • Jun. 19, 2025

Hollywood, after all, has its own hierarchies — its own caste system, if you will.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2024

Those at the lowest strata of the caste system, known as Dalits, have been pushing for legal protections in California and beyond.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 7, 2023

Indeed, a primary function of any racial caste system is to define the meaning of race in its time.

From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023