ethnicity

noun

eth·​nic·​i·​ty eth-ˈni-sə-tē How to pronounce ethnicity (audio)
plural ethnicities
Synonyms of ethnicitynext
1
: ethnic quality or affiliation
aspects of ethnicity
2
: a particular ethnic affiliation or group
students of diverse ethnicities

Examples of ethnicity in a Sentence

a university with a student body of diverse ethnicities
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Born and raised in San Diego, Chef Marcus Twilegar said he was regularly exposed to a lot of different cultures, ethnicities and food. Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 29 Dec. 2025 Of the 41 people who reported race and ethnicity information, 85% identified as White, 12% as African-American or Black, and 2% as Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander. Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025 Bhutanese, Mongolian, Nepali and Laotian are among the qualified ethnicities on the list. Susan Shelley, Oc Register, 20 Dec. 2025 In South Brooklyn where the neighbourhoods of Brighton Beach, Coney Island, Sheepshead Bay and Ocean Parkway intersect in a blend of ethnicities languages and cultures; the people are tough resilient and more than a little stubborn. Photovogue, Vogue, 18 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ethnicity

Word History

First Known Use

1920, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ethnicity was in 1920

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Ethnicity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ethnicity. Accessed 7 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on ethnicity

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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