Definitions
01relating to cultural groups
B2 · Upper Intermediate Academic
adj. relating to a group of people who share the same culture, race, or national background.
adj. pertaining to a population group that shares a common cultural, linguistic, or ancestral heritage.
Español:étnico
“The city is famous for its diverse ethnic groups and many different languages.”
“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.
02foreign or traditional style
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. describing things like food, music, or clothes that come from a specific, often non-Western, culture.
adj. characteristic of a specific minority or foreign culture, particularly regarding traditional or folk expressions.
日本語:エスニック※
“We went to a market that sells ethnic food from all over the world.”
“The boutique specialises in ethnic jewellery handcrafted by artisans using traditional tribal techniques.”
Teaching tip
In casual conversation, this sense is sometimes used to mean 'foreign' or 'exotic', though some people find this usage reductive.
Synonyms
Antonyms
03a member of a group
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a person who belongs to a specific ethnic group, especially a minority group.
n. a member of a particular ethnic group, typically used in the context of minority or immigrant populations.
“The survey asked if the participants identified as ethnics or as part of the majority.”
“The historical document recorded the arrival of various ethnics who settled in the industrial suburbs during the late nineteenth century.”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.
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ethnic” in context.
Adjective
01. ethnic community
“The local festival celebrates the traditions of each ethnic community living in the city.”
adj + noun
02. ethnic difference
“It is important to respect ethnic difference while focusing on our shared human values.”
adj + noun
03. ethnic group
“The survey asked participants to identify which ethnic group they belonged to.”
adj + noun
04. ethnic minority
“The government is introducing new laws to protect the rights of every ethnic minority in the country.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“The Rohingya are a mostly Muslim ethnic group who have lived in Buddhist-majority Myanmar for centuries.” “Honey hunters of the Gurung ethnic community in Nepal collect honey from the comb.” Etymology
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.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/ethnic
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「日本語」「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0