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

• nation
• nationality
• race

Examples of ethnicity in a Sentence

a university with a student body of diverse ethnicities

Recent Examples on the Web

Last year, a study that examined death records from 2000 to 2021 pinpointed large disparities in life expectancy based on location, as well as race and ethnicity. —Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 29 Apr. 2025

Although not universal, the data also shows some variations by race and ethnicity. —Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 23 Apr. 2025

Because her role was written without a specific ethnicity or cultural background attached, Gladstone saw an opportunity when suggesting a new name for her character: Lee. —Tracy Brown, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2025

Tarrant County Commissioner Precincts by Race and Ethnicity This map shows Esri’s 2024 population estimates by commissioner precinct, broken down by race and ethnicity. —Rachel Royster, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Apr. 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