ethnic

[ eth-nik ]

/ ˈɛθ nɪk /

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.

Nearby words

ethmoidectomy, ethmoiditis, ethmoturbinal, ethnarch, ethnarchy, ethnic, ethnic cleansing, ethnic minority, ethnical, ethnically, ethnicity

Origin of ethnic

1325–75; Middle English ethnik heathen < Late Latin ethnicus < Greek ethnikós. See ethno-, -ic

SYNONYMS FOR ethnic

5 native, national, indigenous.

Related forms

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for ethnically

But what is it like to be the embodiment of that, as an ethnically ambiguous individual?
What It's Like To Be Ambiguously Ethnic|The Daily Beast Video|November 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It has also become, by some measurements, the most ethnically diverse (PDF) region in the country.
Battle of the Upstarts: Houston vs. San Francisco Bay|Joel Kotkin|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Adding insult to injury for these ethnically distinct residents, discrimination and racism are rife on a daily basis.
Hong Kong Demonstrators Reject Racism|Ben Leung|October 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
WARNING: This column contains racially and ethnically offensive words and phrases.
The ‘Tennessee Crackers’ Would Have Never Happened|Michael Tomasky|November 30, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Indeed, it has focused on ethnically cleansing those areas of Sunnis to create an Alawite mini-state.
Why Now Is the Time For Syria Diplomacy|Trita Parsi|May 16, 2013|DAILY BEAST
There is no valid reason for supposing that the Chinese people are ethnically inferior to the Japanese.
Across China on Foot|Edwin Dingle
By allegiance a Bohemian is an Austrian subject, ethnically he belongs to the country of his birth—Bohemia.
Bohemia under Hapsburg Misrule|Various
Ethnically, the only real Americans are the Indian descendants of the aboriginal races.
Our Foreigners|Samuel P. Orth
If the town were ethnically in contact with Italy we would recognize the right of the majority.
The Birth of Yugoslavia, Volume 2|Henry Baerlein
What anthem did Bloom chant partially in anticipation of that multiple, ethnically irreducible consummation?
Ulysses|James Joyce

British Dictionary definitions for ethnically

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

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

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

adjective

noun

RELATED CONTENT

Nearby words

Origin of ethnic

SYNONYMS FOR ethnic

Related forms

Examples from the Web for ethnically

British Dictionary definitions for ethnically

ethnic

ethnical

adjective

noun

Derived Forms

Word Origin for ethnic

usage