Ethnocentric
/ˌɛθnoʊˈsɛntrɪk/noun
Focused on or biased toward the values, standards, or interests of one’s own ethnic group or culture.
Did you know?The word is built from Greek roots, but the concept became a powerful modern label for the hidden bias that makes one culture feel like the natural center of reality.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
ethnos
“a people, nation, or tribe”
Ancient Greek
Greek
kentron
“a sharp point, center point, or compass point”
Late 19th Century
English
ethnocentric
“centered on one's own ethnic group or culture”
Modern English
English
ethnocentric
“biased toward the standards of one's own group”
Explore more surprising origins