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 of ethnicity

• nationality
• nation

Examples of ethnicity in a Sentence

a university with a student body of diverse ethnicities

Recent Examples on the Web

But that’s changing, as the Conference Board reports that the number of companies disclosing directors’ race and ethnicity in the S&P 500 has dropped dramatically, and ISS-Corporate reports white men made up the majority of new directors in that group for the first time since 2017. —Diane Brady, Fortune, 18 Feb. 2026

Vedam’s supporters believe investigators fixated on him as the lone suspect at the expense of other legitimate leads, arguing that his ethnicity played a role in how authorities homed in on him in the early days of the case and at trial. —Elizabeth Wolfe, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026

Models were asked to portray other races or ethnicities in a photoshoot. —Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 17 Feb. 2026

At-home DNA tests are a popular and affordable way to discover genetic information, including early ancestors, ethnicity and genetic predisposition for diseases. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 17 Feb. 2026

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