castes
n. countablen. fixed social groups that people are born into. In these systems, your family's rank often decides your job and who you can marry.
n. rigid social groups characterized by hereditary transmission of lifestyle, occupation, and social status. Often associated with the traditional social hierarchy in India, though the term applies to any closed system of social stratification.
The ancient system divided people into different castes.
Sociologists study how rigid social castes can prevent people from moving up in society regardless of their talent.
While modern laws have officially abolished discrimination based on birth, the cultural influence of historical castes continues to shape political alliances and social networks in many rural regions.
Usually used in the plural when referring to the system as a whole or the various groups within it.