What does "ethnic" mean?

1. (relating to cultural groups) relating to a group of people who share the same culture, race, or national background. 2. (foreign or traditional style) describing things like food, music, or clothes that come from a specific, often non-Western, culture. 3. (a member of a group) a person who belongs to a specific ethnic group, especially a minority group.

How do you use "ethnic"?

Often used in academic or official contexts to discuss demographics and social diversity. The noun form is less common than the adjective and can sound overly clinical or dated in some contexts.

ethnic

adj. · n.

US //ˈɛθnɪk// UK //ˈɛθnɪk// eth·nic

1 relating to cultural groups (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Academic

relating to a group of people who share the same culture, race, or national background.

pertaining to a population group that shares a common cultural, linguistic, or ancestral heritage.

Example

The city is famous for its diverse ethnic groups and many different languages.

Example

Sociologists study how ethnic identity is maintained across multiple generations in immigrant communities.

Usage

Often used in academic or official contexts to discuss demographics and social diversity.
2 foreign or traditional style (adj.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

describing things like food, music, or clothes that come from a specific, often non-Western, culture.

characteristic of a specific minority or foreign culture, particularly regarding traditional or folk expressions.

Example

We went to a market that sells ethnic food from all over the world.

Example

The boutique specialises in ethnic jewellery handcrafted by artisans using traditional tribal techniques.

Teacher's tip

In casual conversation, this sense is sometimes used to mean 'foreign' or 'exotic', though some people find this usage reductive.
- modern
- mainstream

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3 a member of a group (n.)
C1 Advanced Formal

a person who belongs to a specific ethnic group, especially a minority group.

a member of a particular ethnic group, typically used in the context of minority or immigrant populations.

Example

The survey asked if the participants identified as ethnics or as part of the majority.

Example

The historical document recorded the arrival of various ethnics who settled in the industrial suburbs during the late nineteenth century.

Usage

The noun form is less common than the adjective and can sound overly clinical or dated in some contexts.

Origin

From Middle English ethnik, from Latin ethnicus ("pagan", "heathen"), from Ancient Greek ἐθνικός (ethnikós, “of or for a nation, heathen”), from ἔθνος (éthnos, “a company", later "a people or nation, heathens”). By surface analysis, ethno- + -ic.