ethnic

ethnic [eth-nik] SynonymsExamplesWord Origin adjective

1. pertaining to or characteristic of a people, especially a group (ethnic group) sharing a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like.
2. referring to the origin, classification, characteristics, etc., of such groups.
3. being a member of an ethnic group, especially of a group that is a minority within a larger society: ethnic Chinese in San Francisco.
4. of, relating to, or characteristic of members of such a group.
5. belonging to or deriving from the cultural, religious, or linguistic traditions of a people or country: ethnic dances.
6. (of a human being) displaying characteristics, as in physical appearance, language, or accent, that can cause one to be identified by others as a member of a minority ethnic group: Her new boyfriend looks ethnic to me.
7. Obsolete. pagan; heathen.

noun

8. a member of an ethnic group.

Origin of ethnic 1325–75; Middle English ethnik heathen Late Latin ethnicus Greek ethnikós. See ethno-, -ic Related formseth·ni·cal·ly, adverbin·ter·eth·nic, adjectiveSynonyms for ethnic 5. native, national, indigenous. Examples from the Web for inter-ethnic Contemporary Examples of inter-ethnic

In putting a light-hearted spotlight on inter-ethnic prejudice, videos like these can serve a cathartic function in society.

How Israeli Immigrants See Each Other

Mira Sucharov

June 7, 2013

They created inter-ethnic institutions and, ultimately, an inter-ethnic city culture.

James Barrett on ‘The Irish Way,’ How the Irish Influenced U.S. Cities

James R. Barrett

March 16, 2012

Historical Examples of inter-ethnic

The potential for inter-ethnic tension is deemed to be sizeable by the West.

After the Rain

Sam Vaknin

Any foreign intervention serves only to exacerbate the situation by increasing the number and intensity of inter-ethnic grudges.

After the Rain

Sam Vaknin

British Dictionary definitions for inter-ethnic ethnic ethnical adjective

1. relating to or characteristic of a human group having racial, religious, linguistic, and certain other traits in common
2. relating to the classification of mankind into groups, esp on the basis of racial characteristics
3. denoting or deriving from the cultural traditions of a group of peoplethe ethnic dances of Slovakia
4. characteristic of another culturethe ethnic look; ethnic food

noun

5. mainly US and Australian a member of an ethnic group, esp a minority group

Derived Formsethnically, adverbethnicity (ɛθˈnɪsɪtɪ), nounWord Origin for ethnic C14 (in the senses: heathen, Gentile): from Late Latin ethnicus, from Greek ethnikos, from ethnos raceusage Referring to a person as an ethnic is broadly acceptable in the US, Australia and Canada, but could well cause offence in the UK and elsewhere Word Origin and History for inter-ethnic ethnic n.

late 14c., Scottish, “heathen, pagan,” and having that sense first in English; as an adj. from late 15c. from Latin ethnicus, Greek ethnikos, from ethnos “band of people living together, nation, people,” properly “people of one’s own kind,” from PIE *swedh-no-, suffixed form of root *s(w)e- (see idiom).

In Septuagint, Greek ta ethne translates Hebrew goyim, plural of goy “nation,” especially of non-Israelites, hence “Gentile nation” (see goy). Sense of “peculiar to a race or nation” is attested from 1851, a return to the word’s original meaning; that of “different cultural groups” is 1935; and that of “racial, cultural or national minority group” is American English 1945; ethnic cleansing is attested from 1991.

Although the term ‘ethnic cleansing’ has come into English usage only recently, its verbal correlates in Czech, French, German, and Polish go back much further. [Jerry Z. Muller, “Us and Them: The Enduring Power of Ethnic Nationalism,” Foreign Affairs, March/April 2008]