definitions
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ethnocentrism

[ eth-noh-sen-triz-uh m ]
/ ˌɛθ noʊˈsɛn trɪz əm /
SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR ethnocentrism ON THESAURUS.COM

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.

RELATED WORDS

fanaticism, nationalism, jingoism, narrowness, zealotry

Nearby words

ethnoastronomy, ethnobiology, ethnobotany, ethnocentric, ethnocentricity, ethnocentrism, ethnog., ethnogeny, ethnogeography, ethnographic, ethnography

Origin of ethnocentrism

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

British Dictionary definitions for ethnocentricity

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 Formsethnocentric, 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 ethnocentricity

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 formseth′no•cen′tric (-trĭk) adj.eth′no•cen•tric′i•ty (-sĕn-trĭs′ĭ-tē) n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Culture definitions for ethnocentricity

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.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.