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ethnic group

ethnic group

58 2.8
People who share the same culture, language, or family history
  • noun
  • /ˈɛθ.nɪk ɡruːp/
translation icon : etnia
  • I've been fascinated throughout my career by why certain ethnic groups have excelled in sport.
  • racial or ethnic group
  • different ethnic groups
  • other ethnic groups

UNIA membership was also quite diverse, and no single ethnic group was in control.

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Examples

  • Soon as they came over, each ethnic group was met with violence and hostility.

  • Finally, although this study contained a variety of different ethnic groups, some minority groups were not represented.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Each ethnic group should have its own state.

  • I mean, local ethnic groups adapt to the place they live.

  • There are 90 different ethnic groups...

  • Though engagement patterns tend to be consistent across ethnic groups, there are some variations.

    Academic text (2011)
  • UNIA membership was also quite diverse, and no single ethnic group was in control.

  • Failure to cater for the aged is an abomination among various ethnic groups in Nigeria.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Asians and Pacific Islanders will continue to be the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States.

    Academic text (1999)
  • There are many unique traditions within each ethnic group that reflect their heritage.

Synonyms

tribe
vsethnic group
576 2.3

A group of people who share the same family background, language, and customs

is a broader cultural community not limited to kinship or chief leadership
nationality
vsethnic group
33 3.2

A group of people who share the same country or cultural background

focuses on cultural heritage and traditions rather than state or political identity
ethnos
vsethnic group
1 9.9

A group of people who share the same culture and history

is a community defined mainly by shared heritage and traditions

How Large

population
2.3
nation
1.7
ethnic group
58 2.8
tribe
576 2.3
clan
594 2.9

Surface Forms

ethnic group singular
ethnic groups plural

Morphology

ethnic + group

The meaning is directly derivable from combining 'ethnic' (relating to customs, heritage, or cultural identity) with 'group' (a unit of people); together they straightforwardly denote a community sharing cultural background. This adj+noun composition is a common, cross-linguistic pattern and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.

Etymology

Ethnic group comes from the simple picture of people who share the same ethnic background standing together as a group, like a village with the same language, food and festivals. That's why it means 'a community of people who share a common cultural background'.