ethnicity

noun

eth·​nic·​i·​ty eth-ˈni-sə-tē 

plural ethnicities

1

: ethnic quality or affiliation

aspects of ethnicity

2

: a particular ethnic affiliation or group

students of diverse ethnicities

Synonyms

• nationality
• nation
• race

Examples of ethnicity in a Sentence

a university with a student body of diverse ethnicities

Recent Examples on the Web

The organization’s data showed that drowning rates are rising too, with already at-risk groups like young children and seniors of all races and ethnicities, as well as Black people of all ages, seeing the greatest increase in deaths. —Sophie Kaufman, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Those decreases diverge sharply by race and ethnicity. —David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Last month, a temporary restraining order was issued preventing immigration agents from detaining people based solely on race, ethnicity, accent, or being at certain locations, including bus stops and car washes. —Hanna Kang, Oc Register, 13 Aug. 2025

All student groups see increases State officials also said for the first time, all student groups that the state collects data on – like ethnicity, special needs, language learners and socioeconomic status – saw growth in reading scores. —Caroline Beck, IndyStar, 13 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ethnicity

• basicity
• chronicity
• complicity
• cyclicity
• duplicity
• facticity
• felicity
• helicity
• plasticity
• publicity
• rusticity
• simplicity