noun
Uncommon
caste
kahst
Caste (noun) means one of the hereditary social classes found historically in South Asian societies and elsewhere. Example: “The novel explores how caste shaped opportunity in colonial India.”
noun
1
One of the hereditary social classes found historically in South Asian societies and elsewhere.
"Pakistan is a conservative, religious state. The Edhi Foundation is unusual in its ignoring of caste, creed, religion and sect. This strict stance has led to some criticism from religious groups."
— Samira Shackle, On the frontline with Karachi’s ambulance drivers (2017)
"The novel explores how caste shaped opportunity in colonial India."
2
Any rigid, hereditary social division that limits people to a fixed class.
"Critics argue that wealth has created a new kind of caste system."
How to use caste
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rigid, usually hereditary, social class.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "cast" (to throw, or a group of actors) — different word entirely despite the near-identical spelling.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
caste system
lower caste
upper caste
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Word forms
- Plural
- castes
Fill the gap
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The novel explores how _____ shaped opportunity in colonial India.
Etymology
From Portuguese or Spanish casta ("lineage, breed"), thought to trace to Latin castus ("pure, chaste").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for caste
See all rhymes for caste →Frequently asked questions
What does “caste” mean?
The word “caste” means one of the hereditary social classes found historically in South Asian societies and elsewhere. In plain terms, a rigid, usually hereditary, social class.
How do you pronounce “caste”?
“Caste” is pronounced kahst (/kæst/ in IPA).
How do you use “caste” in a sentence?
Here is “caste” used in a sentence: “The novel explores how caste shaped opportunity in colonial India.”
What part of speech is “caste”?
“Caste” is a noun.
Where does the word “caste” come from?
The word “caste” comes from Latin. From Portuguese or Spanish casta ("lineage, breed"), thought to trace to Latin castus ("pure, chaste").
Is “caste” a common word?
“Caste” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “caste” have?
“Caste” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: one of the hereditary social classes found historically in South Asian societies and elsewhere.
What is the difference between caste and class?
Caste refers to a hereditary social category, historically associated with South Asian societies, that a person is born into and typically cannot change, while class is generally based on factors like wealth, occupation, or education that can shift over a lifetime. Caste is fixed by birth, whereas class allows more mobility.
Can the word caste be used outside South Asia?
Yes, caste can describe any rigid, hereditary social division that limits people to a fixed class, so it is sometimes applied more broadly to other societies with similarly inflexible hereditary hierarchies.
Is caste always about religion?
Caste is primarily a social and hereditary classification rather than strictly a religious one, though in its historical South Asian context it has been closely intertwined with religious tradition.
