ethnocentrism

[ eth-noh-sen-triz-uh m ]

/ ˌɛθ noʊˈsɛn trɪz əm /

noun

Sociology. the belief in the inherent superiority of one's own ethnic group or culture.

a tendency to view alien groups or cultures from the perspective of one's own.

Nearby words

ethno-, ethnoarchaeology, ethnoastronomy, ethnobiology, ethnobotany, ethnocentrism, ethnog., ethnogeny, ethnogeography, ethnography, ethnography of speaking

Origin of ethnocentrism

First recorded in 1905–10; ethno- + cent(e)r + -ism

Related forms

eth·no·cen·tric, adjectiveeth·no·cen·tri·cal·ly, adverbeth·no·cen·tric·i·ty

[eth-noh-sen-tris-i-tee] /ˌɛθ noʊ sɛnˈtrɪs ɪ ti/, noun

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

Examples from the Web for ethnocentric

The most intense patriots are often ethnocentric and chauvinistic.
The Fair Play Settlers of the West Branch Valley, 1769-1784|George D. Wolf

British Dictionary definitions for ethnocentric

ethnocentrism

/ (ˌɛθnəʊˈsɛnˌtrɪzəm) /

noun

belief in the intrinsic superiority of the nation, culture, or group to which one belongs, often accompanied by feelings of dislike for other groups

Derived Forms

ethnocentric, adjectiveethnocentrically, adverbethnocentricity, noun

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

Medicine definitions for ethnocentric

ethnocentrism

[ ĕth′nō-sĕn′trĭz′əm ]

n.

The tendency to evaluate other groups according to the values and standards of one's own ethnic group, especially with the conviction that one's own ethnic group is superior to the other groups.

Related forms

eth′no•cen′tric (-trĭk) adj.eth′no•cen•tric′i•ty (-sĕn-trĭs′ĭ-tē) n.

Culture definitions for ethnocentric

ethnocentrism

[ (eth-noh-sen-triz-uhm) ]

The belief that one's own culture is superior to all others and is the standard by which all other cultures should be measured.

Note

Early social scientists in the nineteenth century operated from an ethnocentric point of view. So-called primitive tribes, for example, were studied by anthropologists to illustrate how human civilization had progressed from “savage” customs toward the accomplishments of Western industrial society.