caste
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.”
How to use caste
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rigid, usually hereditary, social class.
Don't confuse with "cast" (to throw, or a group of actors) — different word entirely despite the near-identical spelling.
Word forms
castes plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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
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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.