Word
ethnicity
Phoneticseth·nic·i·ty, stress on the second syllable
US/ɛθˈnɪsɪti/
UK/ɛθnˈɪsɪti/
Uncountable noun Sociology
Definition
n. the state of belonging to a group with a shared culture, language, or history.
n. the state of belonging to a social group that has a common national or cultural tradition. Often used in demographic data to distinguish cultural background from legal nationality.
Examples
“The form asks for your name, age, and ethnicity.”
“The city's food festival celebrates the diverse ethnicity of its residents through music and traditional cooking.”
“Sociologists argue that ethnicity is a fluid construct, often shaped by historical migration patterns and the internal desire for communal belonging within a larger society.”
Examples
simple
“The form asks for your name, age, and ethnicity.”
contextual
“The city's food festival celebrates the diverse ethnicity of its residents through music and traditional cooking.”
complex
“Sociologists argue that ethnicity is a fluid construct, often shaped by historical migration patterns and the internal desire for communal belonging within a larger society.”
Pitfall
What is your ethnicity country?
What is your country of origin?
Ethnicity refers to your cultural group, while 'country of origin' refers to where you were born.
Real-World Examples
“Speaking to the BBC's Today programme, he said he felt Arday was used as "bragging rights by some universities", and that people spoke of his "age and his ethnicity rather than his talent".” “But since the results differed by ethnicity, further research is needed in larger samples to replicate the differences, she said.” Etymology
From ethnic + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
Related words
Domain
- 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
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/ethnicity