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.

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

There a medieval caste system has bred, not surprisingly, rebellion and the suspicion that all is not what it seems above ground.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 30, 2025

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

Food and food habits are sensitive subjects in culturally-diverse India as they are deeply intertwined with religion and the country's hierarchical caste system.

From BBC • Oct. 27, 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

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