cultural appropriation

noun

: the adoption of cultural elements (such as clothing, customs, or hairstyles) of a group (usually a minority culture) by members of another group (usually a dominant culture) in a way that is exploitative, disrespectful, or stereotypical

Concerns over the cultural appropriation of a Native American sun symbol have led Madison [Wisconsin] officials to consider redesigning the city's flag, Mayor Paul Soglin said.

—Lexy Brodt

That's why cultural appropriation is so detrimental. It is giving us the message that we stole this from you, you can't have it anymore, but we are going to take it and profit off of it.

—Korina Emmerich, quoted in Rocky Mountain Collegian

Britain's Best Knitter sparked a 'cultural appropriation' row last week over its 'misrepresentation' of Fair Isle patterns in its first episode.

—Claire Elliot

Examples of cultural appropriation in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Segregation, cultural appropriation, and racial bias—sometimes intentional, sometimes more systemic—have been a constant. —Marina Harss, New Yorker, 3 June 2026

But that market has faced growing criticism for its dependence on mass production and cultural appropriation — and a portion of travelers are responding by spending their money differently. —Hanna Wickes, Kansas City Star, 29 May 2026

But the souvenir industry has faced growing criticism over mass production and cultural appropriation — and travelers are voting with their wallets. —Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026

The Human Rights Charter, which applies in all countries where LVMH operates, sets out detailed guidelines covering areas including labor conditions, discrimination and harassment, cultural appropriation, environmental protections and armed conflicts, among others. —Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 27 May 2026

Isn’t this a form of cultural appropriation that wouldn’t be tolerated in reverse? —Newsweek Editors, MSNBC Newsweek, 13 May 2026

The lawsuit also includes a lot of lengthy rationales that this is cultural appropriation of an Indigenous person that has nothing to do with the legality of Right of Publicity. —Brian Welk, IndieWire, 8 May 2026

The designs sparked outrage ⁠among Indian artisans and politicians, who accused the brand ​of cultural appropriation. —Reuters, NBC news, 28 Apr. 2026

But the company’s Instagram page was filled with complaints, alleging that a member of the Trump family was trying to profit off a form of cultural appropriation. —Martha Ross, Mercury News, 23 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1945, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for cultural appropriation

• americanization
• anticoagulation
• antidiscrimination
• bioaccumulation
• bioremediation
• compartmentalization
• contextualization
• copolymerization
• decriminalization
• dehumidification
• demilitarization
• demineralization