adj B2 Upper-Intermediate Common

ethnic

EHTH-nihk

Ethnic (adj) means relating to a group of people sharing a common ancestry, culture, language, or nationality. Example: “The city has a rich mix of ethnic communities.”

adj

Relating to a group of people sharing a common ancestry, culture, language, or nationality.

"The city has a rich mix of ethnic communities."

"Ethnic tensions rose ahead of the election."

Reflecting a particular, often minority, culture's traditional style, especially in food, dress, or music.

"The market sells a wide range of ethnic foods."

How to Use Ethnic

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishRelating to a shared cultural, national, or ancestral identity.

Common pairings

ethnic group ethnic minority ethnic cuisine ethnic diversity

Word Forms

more ethnic comparative, ethnics plural, most ethnic superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “ethnic” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The city has a rich mix of _____ communities.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ethnikós (\"of a nation, heathen\"), from éthnos (\"a people or nation\").

Origin: Ancient Greek

Synonyms

View more →

cultural ancestral indigenous traditional national folk

Related Words

national received foreign federal standard global traditional cultural

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “ethnic” mean?

The word “ethnic” means relating to a group of people sharing a common ancestry, culture, language, or nationality. In plain terms, relating to a shared cultural, national, or ancestral identity.

How do you pronounce “ethnic”?

“Ethnic” is pronounced EHTH-nihk (/ˈɛθ.nɪk/ in IPA).

How do you use “ethnic” in a sentence?

Here is “ethnic” used in a sentence: “The city has a rich mix of ethnic communities.”

What part of speech is “ethnic”?

“Ethnic” is an adjective.

Where does the word “ethnic” come from?

The word “ethnic” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek ethnikós (\"of a nation, heathen\"), from éthnos (\"a people or nation\").

Is “ethnic” a common word?

“Ethnic” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “ethnic” have?

“Ethnic” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to a group of people sharing a common ancestry, culture, language, or nationality.

What is the difference between 'ethnic' and 'racial'?

'Ethnic' relates to shared culture, language, ancestry, or nationality, while 'racial' focuses more on physical characteristics and broad ancestral origin. Two people can share a race but belong to different ethnic groups.

What is the difference between 'ethnic' and 'cultural'?

'Ethnic' points to a particular group defined by common ancestry and heritage, whereas 'cultural' refers to the customs, arts, and way of life of any society or group. Ethnic identity is one source of culture, but not the only one.

Is it appropriate to call food 'ethnic'?

The phrase 'ethnic food' is common but can seem to treat certain cuisines as 'other' compared with an unstated default. Many writers now prefer naming the specific cuisine, such as Thai or Ethiopian, for clarity and respect.

People Also Searched

national received foreign federal standard global traditional cultural