# ethnic

/ˈɛθnɪk/ (US) · /ˈɛθnɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ethnic
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. relating to cultural groups

adjective · CEFR B2 · Academic

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

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

- 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.

### 2. foreign or traditional style

adjective · CEFR B2

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

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

- 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.

### 3. a member of a group

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

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

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- The historical document recorded the arrival of various ethnics who settled in the industrial suburbs during the late nineteenth century.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

## Examples

- The city has many different ethnic restaurants.
- The festival celebrates the ethnic diversity of the local community through traditional music and dance.
- Sociologists often examine how ethnic identity is maintained across generations when a minority group lives within a dominant culture that does not share its traditions.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.