Race vs. Ethnicity

synonyms

Now, since you have built an outstanding learning habit, I've decided to teach you about these two tricky words this time. Wanna come?

What Is Their Main Difference?

Both refer to communities of people that share common characteristics with one another. However, 'race' is more focused on dividing people into different groups and attributing specific traits to them, whereas, 'ethnicity' indicates the culture of a group of people that live together. It encompasses their religion, habits, language, etc.

Differences

As stated above, 'race' is a concept that divides people into different groups based on their skin color. Look at the examples below:

There are five races around the world.

Racial discrimination is still prevalent in some countries around the globe.

'Ethnicity', on the other hand, refers to a group of people sharing common characteristics with each other like culture, religion, language, etc. Check out the examples below:

I believe that conforming to the rules and stereotypes of your ethnicity restricts you in many ways.

Because of her black ethnicity, she was always seen as a second-class citizen.

Similarities

As stated above, both refer to communities of people sharing similar characteristics like skin color, language, religion, culture, etc. Look at the examples below:

I never chose my ethnicity, so why do I have to conform to its autocratic standards?

Generally speaking, the human race never learned from past mistakes.

Are They Interchangeable?

Although they are both used in the same contexts, they cannot be used interchangeably. Compare:

✓ The new generation will not obey the idiotic, oppressive rules of their ethnicity.

X The new generation will not obey the idiotic, oppressive rules of their race.

As you can see, this one is incorrect.

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