ethnic cleansing

noun

1. the elimination of an unwanted ethnic group or groups from a society, as by genocide or forced emigration.

ethnic cleansing

noun

1. euphemistic.
   the violent removal by one ethnic group of other ethnic groups from the population of a particular area: used esp of the activities of Serbs against Croats and Muslims in the former Yugoslavia

ethnic cleansing

1. A euphemism to describe the forceful removal or genocide of minority ethnic groups ( see ethnicity ) during the breakup of Yugoslavia . It was used mainly to describe the Serbs' attacks on Muslims in Bosnia and Albanians in Kosovo. ( See Slobodan Milosevic and Kosovo War .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of ethnic cleansing¹

First recorded in 1985–90

Example Sentences

It also says Israeli actions appear to “meet the definition of ethnic cleansing”.

From BBC

The UN first imposed an arms embargo in Darfur in 2004, following allegations of ethnic cleansing against the region's non-Arabic population.

From BBC

After overtaking parts of the country via urban warfare, the group allegedly plans to remove "unwanted groups of people" from these areas by means of "ethnic cleansing".

From BBC

Ms Nkweta-Salam said the "atrocious crimes" were on a scale similar to those seen in Sudan's Darfur region last year, when the RSF was accused of "ethnic cleansing" communities seen to be opposed to it.

From BBC

“We look at northern Gaza and we do see ethnic cleansing taking place, and that has got to stop,” he said at the start of a meeting in London.

From BBC