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definitions

multiculturalism

[muhl-tee-kuhl-cher-uh-liz-uh m, muhl-tahy-]
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noun

the state or condition of being multicultural.
the preservation of different cultures or cultural identities within a unified society, as a state or nation.

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RELATED WORDS

pluralism, diversity

Origin of multiculturalism

First recorded in 1960–65; multicultural + -ism
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for multiculturalism

Contemporary Examples of multiculturalism

Historical Examples of multiculturalism

  • The identity urge expressed in the multiculturalism trend of our days will find in the past its most unreliable arguments.

  • Multiculturalism, criticism of tradition, and freedom from the pressure of competition are among the recommendations they make.

British Dictionary definitions for multiculturalism

multiculturalism

noun

the state or condition of being multicultural
the policy of maintaining a diversity of ethnic cultures within a community
Derived Formsmulticulturalist, adjective, 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
Word Origin and History for multiculturalism
n.

1965, from multicultural + -ism.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Culture definitions for multiculturalism

multiculturalism

The view that the various cultures in a society merit equal respect and scholarly interest. It became a significant force in American society in the 1970s and 1980s as African-Americans, Latinos, and other ethnic groups explored their own history.

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.