intermarriage

[ in-ter-mar-ij, in-ter-mar-ij ]

noun

1. marriage between people of different religions, tribes, castes, ethnicities, or racial groups, as between a white person and a Black person or between a Christian and a Muslim.
2. marriage between people of different social classes.
3. marriage within a specific social or cultural group, as required by custom or law; endogamy.
4. marriage between people belonging to the same small group, especially if they are close blood relatives.

Word History and Origins

Origin of intermarriage¹

First recorded in 1570–80; inter- + marriage

Example Sentences

Centuries of intermarriage, meanwhile, has resulted in millions of people with a small percentage of Native American ancestry.

From Seattle Times

Jewish intermarriage rates have risen in the United States.

From New York Times

Their language and traditions merged with Indigenous tribes over the decades and many Alaska Natives have Russian surnames after intermarriages.

From Seattle Times

Robbins said her wife graduated from TCU, “so it already generates some intermarriage household rivalry.”

From Washington Times

The Mizrahim who make up around half of Israel's Jewish majority - a figure hard to pin down due to widespread intermarriage with Ashkenazim - have at times complained of discrimination and socio-economic disadvantage.

From Reuters