adj. & n.
adj. 1 a (of a social group) having a common national or cultural tradition. b (of clothes etc.) resembling those of a non-European exotic people. 2 denoting origin by birth or descent rather than nationality (ethnic Turks). 3 relating to race or culture (ethnic group; ethnic origins). 4 archaic pagan, heathen.
n. 1 US a member of an (esp. minority) ethnic group. 2 (in pl., usu. treated as sing.) = ETHNOLOGY. ethnic minority a (usu. identifiable) group differentiated from the main population of a community by racial origin or cultural background. ethnically adv. ethnicity n.
[ ME f. eccl.L ethnicus f. Gk ethnikos heathen f. ethnos nation ]