Ethnonym
/ˈɛθnəˌnɪm/noun
A name used for a group of people, especially an ethnic, national, or cultural group.
Did you know?The first element comes from Ancient Greek éthnos, meaning a people or nation, while the second descends from ónoma, ‘name’—the same ancient root behind ‘anonymous’ and ‘synonym.’
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Indo-European
PIE
*h₁nómn̥
“Name; designation or identifying word”
Ancient Greek
Greek
éthnos
“A people, nation, tribe, or organized group”
Ancient Greek
Greek
ónoma
“Name”
19th Century
Scientific Greek
ethno- + -onym
“Combining forms meaning ‘people’ and ‘name,’ used to construct technical terms”
20th Century
English
ethnonym
“A name for an ethnic or national group”
Modern English
English
ethnonym
“A designation used by or for a particular people”