ethnic: Meaning and Definition of

eth•nic

Pronunciation: (eth'nik), [key]
— adj.
  1. pertaining to or characteristic of a people, esp. a groupsharing a common and distinctive culture, religion, language, or the like.
  2. referring to the origin, classification, characteristics, etc., of such groups.
  3. being a member of an ethnic group, esp. of a group that is a minority within a larger society: ethnic Chinese in San Francisco.
  4. of, pertaining to, or characteristic of members of such a group.
  5. belonging to or deriving from the cultural, racial, religious, or linguistic traditions of a people or country: ethnic dances.
  6. pagan; heathen.
—n.
  1. a member of an ethnic group.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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