Race vs. Ethnicity

By Jaxson

  • Ethnicity

    An ethnic group, or an ethnicity, is a category of people who identify with each other based on similarities such as common ancestry, language, society, culture or nation. Ethnicity is usually an inherited status based on the society in which one lives. Membership of an ethnic group tends to be defined by a shared cultural heritage, ancestry, origin myth, history, homeland, language or dialect, symbolic systems such as religion, mythology and ritual, cuisine, dressing style, art, and physical appearance.

    Ethnic groups, derived from the same historical founder population, often continue to speak related languages and share a similar gene pool. By way of language shift, acculturation, adoption and religious conversion, it is sometimes possible for individuals or groups to leave one ethnic group and become part of another (except for ethnic groups emphasizing racial purity as a key membership criterion).

    Ethnicity is often used synonymously with ambiguous terms such as nation or people. In English, it can also have the connotation of something exotic (cf. “White ethnic”, “ethnic restaurant”, etc.), generally related to cultures of more recent immigrants, who arrived after the founding population of an area was established.

    The largest ethnic groups in modern times comprise hundreds of millions of individuals (Han Chinese being the largest), while the smallest are limited to a few dozen individuals (numerous indigenous peoples worldwide). Larger ethnic groups may be subdivided into smaller sub-groups known variously as tribes or clans, which over time may become separate ethnic groups themselves due to endogamy or physical isolation from the parent group. Conversely, formerly separate ethnicities can merge to form a pan-ethnicity, and may eventually merge into one single ethnicity. Whether through division or amalgamation, the formation of a separate ethnic identity is referred to as ethnogenesis.

Wikipedia
  • Race (noun)

    A contest between people, animals, vehicles, etc. where the goal is to be the first to reach some objective. Example: Several horses run in a horse race, and the first one to reach the finishing post wins

    “The race around the park was won by Johnny, who ran faster than the others.”

    “We had a race to see who could finish the book the quickest.”

  • Race (noun)

    Swift progress; rapid motion; an instance of moving or driving at high speed.

  • Race (noun)

    A race condition.

  • Race (noun)

    A progressive movement toward a goal.

    “the race to cure cancer”

  • Race (noun)

    A fast-moving current of water, such as that which powers a mill wheel.

  • Race (noun)

    A water channel, esp. one built to lead water to or from a point where it is utilised.

  • Race (noun)

    Competitive action of any kind, especially when prolonged; hence, career; course of life.

  • Race (noun)

    The bushings of a rolling element bearing which contacts the rolling elements.

  • Race (noun)

    A group of sentient beings, particularly people, distinguished by common ancestry, heritage or characteristics:

  • Race (noun)

    A large group of people distinguished from others on the basis of a common heritage compare ethnic group. See Wikipedia’s article on historical definitions of race.

  • Race (noun)

    A large group of people distinguished from others on the basis of common physical characteristics, such as skin color or hair type.

    “Race was a significant issue during apartheid in South Africa.”

    “The Native Americans colonized the New World in several waves from Asia, and thus they are considered part of the same Mongoloid race.”

  • Race (noun)

    A large group of sentient beings distinguished from others on the basis of a common heritage compare species, subspecies.

    “A treaty was concluded between the race of elves and the race of men.”

  • Race (noun)

    A population geographically separated from others of its species that develops significantly different characteristics; an informal term for a subspecies.

  • Race (noun)

    A breed or strain of domesticated animal.

  • Race (noun)

    A category or species of something that has emerged or evolved from an older one (with an implied parallel to animal breeding or evolutionary science).

    “The advent of the Internet has brought about a new race of entrepreneur.”

    “Recent developments in artificial intelligence has brought about a new race of robots that can perform household chores without supervision.”

  • Race (noun)

    Peculiar flavour, taste, or strength, as of wine; that quality, or assemblage of qualities, which indicates origin or kind, as in wine; hence, characteristic flavour.

  • Race (noun)

    Characteristic quality or disposition.

  • Race (noun)

    A rhizome or root, especially of ginger.

  • Race (verb)

    To take part in a race (in the sense of a contest).

    “The drivers were racing around the track.”

  • Race (verb)

    To compete against in such a race.

    “I raced him to the car, but he was there first, so he got to ride shotgun.”

  • Race (verb)

    To move or drive at high speed.

    “As soon as it was time to go home, he raced for the door.”

    “Her heart was racing as she peered into the dimly lit room.”

  • Race (verb)

    Of a motor, to run rapidly when not engaged to a transmission.

  • Ethnicity (noun)

    The common characteristics of a group of people, especially regarding ancestry, culture, language or national experiences.

  • Ethnicity (noun)

    An ethnic group.

  • Ethnicity (noun)

    Race; common ancestry.

Wiktionary
  • Race (noun)

    a competition between runners, horses, vehicles, etc. to see which is the fastest in covering a set course

    “Hill started from pole position and won the race”

  • Race (noun)

    a series of races for horses or dogs, held at a fixed time on a set course.

  • Race (noun)

    a situation in which individuals or groups compete to be first to achieve a particular objective

    “the race for nuclear power”

  • Race (noun)

    the course of the sun or moon through the heavens

    “the industrious sun already half his race hath run”

  • Race (noun)

    a strong or rapid current flowing through a narrow channel in the sea or a river

    “angling for tuna in turbulent tidal races”

  • Race (noun)

    a water channel, especially one built to lead water to or from a point where its energy is utilized, as in a mill or mine.

  • Race (noun)

    a smooth ring-shaped groove or guide in which a ball bearing or roller bearing runs.

  • Race (noun)

    a fenced passageway in a stockyard through which animals pass singly for branding, loading, washing, etc.

  • Race (noun)

    (in weaving) the channel along which the shuttle moves.

  • Race (noun)

    each of the major divisions of humankind, having distinct physical characteristics

    “people of all races, colours, and creeds”

  • Race (noun)

    the fact or condition of belonging to a racial division or group; the qualities or characteristics associated with this.

  • Race (noun)

    a group of people sharing the same culture, history, language, etc.; an ethnic group

    “we Scots were a bloodthirsty race then”

  • Race (noun)

    a group or set of people or things with a common feature or features

    “the upper classes thought of themselves as a race apart”

  • Race (noun)

    a population within a species that is distinct in some way, especially a subspecies

    “people have killed so many tigers that two races are probably extinct”

  • Race (noun)

    (in non-technical use) each of the major divisions of living creatures

    “a member of the human race”

    “the race of birds”

  • Race (noun)

    a group of people descended from a common ancestor

    “a prince of the race of Solomon”

  • Race (noun)

    ancestry

    “two coursers of ethereal race”

  • Race (noun)

    a ginger root.

  • Race (verb)

    compete with another or others to see who is fastest at covering a set course or achieving an objective

    “the vet took blood samples from the horses before they raced”

    “two drivers raced each other through a housing estate”

  • Race (verb)

    compete regularly in races as a sport or leisure activity

    “next year, he raced again for the team”

  • Race (verb)

    prepare and enter (an animal or vehicle) for races

    “he raced his three horses simply for the fun of it”

  • Race (verb)

    move or progress swiftly or at full speed

    “I raced into the house”

    “she spoke automatically, while her mind raced ahead”

  • Race (verb)

    operate or cause to operate at excessive speed

    “the truck came to rest against a tree with its engine racing”

  • Race (verb)

    (of a person’s heart or pulse) beat faster than usual because of fear or excitement.

Oxford Dictionary

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