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

Under the settlement, Buckfire agreed to remove all references to race as eligibility or selection criteria and clarify that its scholarships do not give preference to any student based on race or ethnicity. —Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 3 Mar. 2026

Such patterns often crossed the boundaries of hate driven by nationality, ethnicity and religion. —Shira Li Bartov, Sun Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2026

Their efforts bring people together across political parties, race and ethnicity, socioeconomic status and other identity markers that so often drive us apart. —Rich Harwood, Twin Cities, 1 Mar. 2026

Delivering compliments that put down a child's race or ethnicity is not. —Terri Huggins Hart, Parents, 1 Mar. 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