# ethnicity

/ɛθˈnɪsɪti/ (US) · /ɛθnˈɪsɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ethnicity
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 3. race

noun · CEFR B2 · Formal

a word sometimes used instead of 'race' to talk about a person's physical or family origins.

For teachers: used as a synonym for race or common ancestry, often as a more formal or euphemistic alternative in social and political discourse.

- The form asked for my ethnicity and my age.
- Sociologists argue that ethnicity is a more useful category than race because it encompasses shared history and language rather than just physical traits.

## 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.

---

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.