culture diffusion

[kuhl-cher di-fyoo-zhuhn]

noun

Anthropology, Sociology.

1. the spreading out of culture, culture traits, or a cultural pattern from a central point.

Word History and Origins

Origin of culture diffusion¹

First recorded in 1965–70

When To Use

What is cultural diffusion?

Culture diffusion, also often called cultural diffusion or transcultural diffusion, is a term from anthropology, specifically cultural anthropology, a subfield that focuses on how cultures vary among the human population.Cultural diffusion describes the spread of one culture’s practices, beliefs, and/or items, like food, music, or tools. This spread can be among members of the same culture or to completely different cultures around the world.Cultural diffusion is why many cultures around the world share similarities.