rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryethnicShared ancestry or culture
adjective / noun

ethnic

ETH-nik/ˈeθnɪk/

Relating to or belonging to a group with shared ancestry or culture.

She shares a Punjabi embroidered textile that reflects her ethnic heritage.

A South Asian woman shares a Punjabi phulkari embroidered textile with a visitor at a small contemporary community craft table, illustrating a connection to a group's shared cultural heritage rather than ethnicity as physical appearance.
Etymology
ethnGreekpeople, nation
+icGreekpertaining to

Ethnos meant a people or nation, making ethnic originally about what belongs or is peculiar to a people. The modern cultural sense returns to that idea after an earlier English meaning of “pagan.”

In context

SOAS University of London10:55
it's a traditional african society modeled on the namibian ethnic group that you might be familiar with
SOAS Africa Conference 2017 ‘New visions, new images, new stories’, SOAS University of London

More examples

  • Several ethnic groups celebrate their traditions at the community festival.
  • The survey asks about each person's ethnic background.
  • The organization works to prevent ethnic discrimination in hiring.

Forms

ethnic · ethnics

ethnicity noun — Identity based on shared ancestry or culture.

ethnically adverb — In terms of ancestry or cultural identity.

Similar words

cultural
Emphasizes shared practices and beliefs rather than ancestry.
ancestral
Relates specifically to family origins rather than shared cultural practices.