ethnicity
/ɛθˈnɪsɪti/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: 3.73 in modern English
17
Scrabble Score
9
Letters
4
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
noun
The common characteristics of a group of people, especially regarding ancestry, culture, language or national experiences.
Countable; Uncountable
Example Sentences
- "Few concepts are as emotionally charged as that of race. The word conjures up a mixture of associations—culture, ethnicity, genetics, subjugation, exclusion and persecution. But is the tragic history of efforts to define groups of people by race really a matter of the misuse of science, the abuse of a valid biological concept? […] After all, more and more diseases are reportedly correlated with ethnicity and race."
- "As a young Asian American, I was lucky growing up in an inclusive suburb, where although known to be predominantly Caucasian, all blends of cultures and ethnicities were embodied in the school populations. That said, the “K-wave” had not reached the depths of Naperville yet, and I remember K-pop lovers being perceived as outcasts all over the States."
Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *swé Proto-Indo-European *dʰeh₁- Proto-Indo-European *swe-dʰh₁- Proto-Hellenic *séswōtʰa Ancient Greek ἔθω (éthō) Proto-Indo-European *-nós Ancient Greek -νος (-nos) ? Ancient Greek ἔθνος (éthnos) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Proto-Hellenic *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ῐκός (-ĭkós) Ancient Greek ἐθνικός (ethnikós)bor. Latin ethnicusbor. Middle English ethnik English ethnic Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ Proto-Indo-European *-ts Proto-Indo-European *-teh₂ts Latin -itāsder. Old French -itebor. Middle English -ite English -ity English ethnicity From ethnic + -ity.