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

But more than anything he had come to hate Hispanic migrants, who had turned his overwhelmingly white town into a nearly-half ethnic one.

From Salon

“I am simply defending my country from cultural and ethnic replacement brought on by an invasion.”

From Salon

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

From BBC

It also says that the “organised, violent displacement of Palestinians in Gaza, who are members of another ethnic group, is likely planned to be permanent in the buffer zones and security corridors”, and that such actions “amount to ethnic cleansing”.

From BBC

He says these include "ethnic quotas in public institutions" that go against the spirit of fairness for all New Zealanders.

From BBC

Related Words

• indigenous
• national
• traditional
• tribal