ethnic

[ eth-nik ]

/ ˈɛθ nɪk /

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Definition of ethnic

adjective

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

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

being a member of an ethnic group, especially of a group that is a minority within a larger society: ethnic Chinese in San Francisco.

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

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

(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.

Obsolete. pagan; heathen.

noun

a member of an ethnic group.

OTHER WORDS FOR ethnic

5 native, national, indigenous.

See synonyms for ethnic on Thesaurus.com

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Origin of ethnic

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

OTHER WORDS FROM ethnic

eth·ni·cal·ly, adverbin·ter·eth·nic, adjective

Words nearby ethnic

Ethiopian Church, Ethiopic, ethmoid, ethnarch, ethnarchy, ethnic, ethnical, ethnic cleansing, ethnicity, ethnic minority, ethno-

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use ethnic in a sentence

They, like many people with health issues or from under-resourced racial and ethnic minority communities, are affected by numerous social determinants that amplify the negative health consequences they experience.
One big hiccup in US efforts to distribute COVID-19 vaccines? Poor internet access.|By Tamra Burns Loeb, Et Al./The Conversation|February 10, 2021|Popular-Science
It’s even harder when you’re an ethnic minority, and then especially when you’re the minority of minorities in coaching or in sports.
Asian Coaches Association advocates for ‘minority of minorities’ in college basketball|Gene Wang|February 9, 2021|Washington Post
Under amendments introduced on the House side and later adopted by the Senate, the measures also require the submission of racial and ethnic data about people who receive the shot.
Virginia’s General Assembly heads to special session with bipartisan momentum on coronavirus relief bills|Gregory S. Schneider, Laura Vozzella|February 8, 2021|Washington Post
He also addressed the intersectionality of those who identify as both a member of the LGBTQ and other racial or ethnic communities, again citing hate crimes data where there was an overlap in acts committed.
Md. Senate committee holds hearing on bill to ban panic defense|Philip Van Slooten|February 8, 2021|Washington Blade

Still, as the story of Leonel Castillo shows, Mayorkas probably will face internal dissent, based on his perceived liberal politics if not his ethnic identity.
The DHS secretary could chart a new path on immigration. Will he?|Adam Goodman|February 2, 2021|Washington Post
But a 2011 study of genetic evidence from 30 ethnic groups in India disproved this theory.
The Himalayas’ Hidden Aryans|Nina Strochlic|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
His New Deal Coalition brought together Southerners, Northern ethnic minorities, and urban blacks under the same banner.
Steve Scalise Shows There’s a Fine Line Between Confederate & Southern|Lloyd Green|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He proposed among other things that police departments must better reflect the ethnic makeup of the populace.
Darren Wilson Wasn’t Indicted—the System Was|Michael Daly|November 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
How does a complicated ethnic background inform someone's experiences?
What It's Like To Be Ambiguously Ethnic|The Daily Beast Video|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Army officials also allege that he worked for ethnic rebels as a “communications captain.”
Hope and Change? Burma Kills a Journalist Before Obama Arrives|Joshua Carroll|November 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The people whose institutions and ideas he is examining are members of a given ethnic group.
Comparative Religion|J. Estlin Carpenter
The former country has ever been subject to periodic ethnic disturbances and changes.
Myths of Babylonia and Assyria|Donald A. Mackenzie
But beyond this there is the more delicate investigation of the ethnic element in folklore.
The Science of Fairy Tales|Edwin Sidney Hartland
First of all by the enforcement of a sociological system in distinct opposition to, and in defiance of all ethnic conditions.
Islam Her Moral And Spiritual Value|Arthur Glyn Leonard
Islam attempts nothing unnatural of this kind—nothing that is opposed to ethnic conditions and sociological usages.
Islam Her Moral And Spiritual Value|Arthur Glyn Leonard

British Dictionary definitions for ethnic

ethnic

ethnical

/ (ˈɛθnɪk) /

adjective

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

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

denoting or deriving from the cultural traditions of a group of peoplethe ethnic dances of Slovakia

characteristic of another culturethe ethnic look; ethnic food

noun

mainly US and Australian a member of an ethnic group, esp a minority group

Derived forms of ethnic

ethnically, adverbethnicity (ɛθˈnɪsɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for ethnic

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

usage for ethnic

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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

ethnic

Definition of ethnic

OTHER WORDS FOR ethnic

Origin of ethnic

OTHER WORDS FROM ethnic

Words nearby ethnic

Words related to ethnic

How to use ethnic in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for ethnic

ethnical

Derived forms of ethnic

Word Origin for ethnic

usage for ethnic