ethnocentrism

noun

eth·​no·​cen·​trism ˌeth-nō-ˈsen-ˌtri-zəm 

: the attitude that one's own group, ethnicity, or nationality is superior to others

Yet Brumidi was ignored, the victim of ethnocentrism and snobbery. Though he became a citizen in 1857 … American-born artists cast him as a foreigner and resented his painting Capitol murals.

—Sheryl Gay Stolberg

When it comes to programs targeted at the poor, ethnocentrism correlates with stinginess …

—Matthew Yglesias

Examples of ethnocentrism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

As Western powers barged into people’s political and psychological worlds, a plethora of ethnocentrisms gave way to Eurocentrism. —Manvir Singh, The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2023

Only in recent years have scholars been able to confront the inadequacies (and ethnocentrism) of the ecocide theory. —Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2022

But nationalism and ethnocentrism run deep in both political cultures and could reignite long-standing territorial disputes. —Charles Kupchan, Foreign Affairs, 4 Aug. 2021

Nativism and ethnocentrism and bigotry in high places on both sides of the Atlantic. —Adam Shaw, Fox News, 30 Dec. 2020

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for ethnocentrism

• anthropocentrism
• egocentrism
• eurocentrism