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

They, like many people with health issues or from under-resourced racial and ethnic minority communities, are affected by numerous social determinants that amplify the negative health consequences they experience.

From Popular-Science

It’s even harder when you’re an ethnic minority, and then especially when you’re the minority of minorities in coaching or in sports.

From Washington Post

Under amendments introduced on the House side and later adopted by the Senate, the measures also require the submission of racial and ethnic data about people who receive the shot.

From Washington Post

He also addressed the intersectionality of those who identify as both a member of the LGBTQ and other racial or ethnic communities, again citing hate crimes data where there was an overlap in acts committed.

From Washington Blade

Still, as the story of Leonel Castillo shows, Mayorkas probably will face internal dissent, based on his perceived liberal politics if not his ethnic identity.

From Washington Post

But a 2011 study of genetic evidence from 30 ethnic groups in India disproved this theory.

From The Daily Beast

His New Deal Coalition brought together Southerners, Northern ethnic minorities, and urban blacks under the same banner.

From The Daily Beast

He proposed among other things that police departments must better reflect the ethnic makeup of the populace.

From The Daily Beast

How does a complicated ethnic background inform someone's experiences?

From The Daily Beast

Army officials also allege that he worked for ethnic rebels as a “communications captain.”

From The Daily Beast

The people whose institutions and ideas he is examining are members of a given ethnic group.

From Project Gutenberg

The former country has ever been subject to periodic ethnic disturbances and changes.

From Project Gutenberg

But beyond this there is the more delicate investigation of the ethnic element in folklore.

From Project Gutenberg

First of all by the enforcement of a sociological system in distinct opposition to, and in defiance of all ethnic conditions.

From Project Gutenberg

Islam attempts nothing unnatural of this kind—nothing that is opposed to ethnic conditions and sociological usages.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• indigenous
• national
• traditional
• tribal