ethnic

[ eth-nik ]

adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of a people, especially a group ethnic group sharing a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like.
2. referring to the origin, classification, characteristics, etc., of such groups.
3. being a member of an ethnic group, especially of a group that is a minority within a larger society:

   ethnic Chinese in San Francisco.

4. of, relating to, or characteristic of members of such a group.
5. belonging to or deriving from the cultural, religious, or linguistic traditions of a people or country:

   ethnic dances.

   Synonyms: indigenous, national, native

6. (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.

7. Obsolete. pagan; heathen.

noun

1. a member of an ethnic group.

ethnic

/ ˈɛθnɪk; ɛθˈnɪsɪtɪ /

adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of a human group having racial, religious, linguistic, and certain other traits in common
2. relating to the classification of mankind into groups, esp on the basis of racial characteristics
3. denoting or deriving from the cultural traditions of a group of people

   the ethnic dances of Slovakia

4. characteristic of another culture

   the ethnic look

   ethnic food

noun

1. a member of an ethnic group, esp a minority group

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

Derived Forms

• ˈethnically, adverb
• ethnicity, noun

Other Words From

• ethni·cal·ly adverb
• inter·ethnic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ethnic¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English ethnik “heathen,” from Late Latin ethnicus, from Greek ethnikós; ethno-, -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of ethnic¹

C14 (in the senses: heathen, Gentile): from Late Latin ethnicus, from Greek ethnikos, from ethnos race

Example Sentences

Ansar Dine was one of several Islamist militant groups to exploit an ethnic Tuareg uprising to take over cities in northern Mali.

From BBC

FOX and kindred outlets were saturated with commentators from across the racial and ethnic rainbow touting Trump-as-matchless-lover-and-protector-of-America and as the guarantor of its greatness.

From Salon

This study surveyed the breastfeeding practices of a large and diverse sample of U.S. mothers across various regions, income levels, and racial/ethnic backgrounds.

From Science Daily

They would be better served to read the polity as Black/not-Black and look for regional and economic differences between racial and ethnic groups.

From Salon

The FA said this constituted an "aggravated breach... as it included a reference, whether express or implied, to nationality and/or race and/or ethnic origin".

From BBC

Related Words

• indigenous
• national
• traditional
• tribal