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
"Black Panther" Lingo
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Lesson 1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Dear Martin
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Cultural observers say the pattern is familiar in global mega-events, where visitors often encounter everyday local norms as striking or unusual.
From Salon • Jun. 28, 2026
In telling the little-known story of the Harlem Cultural Festival held in 1969, “Summer of Soul” presents it as a revolutionary act of Black joy, standing in contrast to the political turmoil.
From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026
According to the Skirball Cultural Center’s new exhibition, “Outsiders, Outcasts, Rebels + Weirdos: Punk Culture 1976-86,” which opens Wednesday, punk’s year zero was 1976, when the Ramones debuted their self-titled record.
From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026
“These origin stories deviate sharply” from the “logocentric” creation stories of Judeo-Christian origin, writes Maria Tatar in “Arachnomania: Spiders and the Cultural Work They Do for Us.”
From The Wall Street Journal • May 15, 2026
“Man, I do not want to do that project for Cultural Studies,” Skid grumbled, shoveling some pizza into his mouth.
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
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.
