ethnicity

/ɛθˈnɪsɪti/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: ethnicities

Sense 1

Meaning · English

The common characteristics of a group of people, especially regarding ancestry, culture, language or national experiences.

Noun

Examples

Few concepts are as emotionally charged as that of race. The word conjures up a mixture of associations—culture, ethnicity, genetics, subjugation, exclusion and persecution. But is the tragic history of efforts to define groups of people by race really a matter of the misuse of science, the abuse of

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

An ethnic group.

Noun

Examples

As a young Asian American, I was lucky growing up in an inclusive suburb, where although known to be predominantly Caucasian, all blends of cultures and ethnicities were embodied in the school populations. That said, the “K-wave” had not reached the depths of Naperville yet, and I remember K-pop lov

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “ethnicity” mean?

The common characteristics of a group of people, especially regarding ancestry, culture, language or national experiences.

Is “ethnicity” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.

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