ethnically

IPA/ˈeθnɪkli/
KK[ˈɛθnɪkli]IPA/ˈeθnɪkli/

ethnically — adverb

1. in connection with the large cultural group a person belongs to — the community

1.adverbB2
Definition

in connection with the large cultural group a person belongs to — the community they share traditions, language, or ancestry with

Example

Fatima's street in Marseille is one of the most ethnically mixed in the city.

collocation: ethnically mixed

The Oslo police treated the attack as ethnically motivated and opened a full investigation.

collocation: ethnically motivated

Common collocations
  • ethnically diverse
  • ethnically mixed
  • ethnically homogeneous
  • ethnically motivated
  • ethnically based
Synonyms
  • culturally

    broader — covers religion, lifestyle, and profession as well as ethnic background

  • racially

    focuses on physical ancestry and skin colour rather than shared traditions

Grammar Patterns

ethnically + adjective

ethnically + past participle

Common Mistakes

The company acted ethnically in returning the money.
The company acted ethically in returning the money.
'ethnically' relates to cultural groups; 'ethically' relates to moral principles.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

Ethnically focuses on shared cultural heritage — language, customs, and traditions passed down through generations. Racially refers to physical traits like skin colour that are often used to sort people into groups (a practice widely rejected by modern science). Culturally is broader: it can include ethnicity but also covers religion, profession, or lifestyle — you can be culturally a New Yorker without sharing anyone's ethnicity. Nationally points to citizenship or country of origin, which may or may not align with ethnic identity: someone can be nationally British but ethnically Punjabi.

culturally ↗racially ↗nationally ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • ethnically diverse community
  • ethnically motivated violence
  • ethnically mixed neighbourhood

Phrases

  • ethnically and culturally

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Formed from ethnic (from Greek ethnikos, meaning 'relating to a nation or people', from ethnos 'nation, tribe') + the adverbial suffix -ally. The modern sense of 'relating to cultural or traditional groups' developed in English through Latin ethnicus and French ethnique.