Miscegenation
/ˌmɪs.əˌdʒɛnˈeɪ.ʃən/noun
The interbreeding or marriage of people considered to be of different racial groups.
Did you know?Miscegenation was coined in 1863 in a U.S. propaganda pamphlet as a deliberate hoax word, built from Latin roots to sound ancient and authoritative.
Etymological Timeline
1863
English
miscegenation
“A coined political term meant to sound like a serious Latin scientific word for interracial mixing”
Latin roots
Latin
miscēre
“to mix”
Latin roots
Latin
genus / generāre
“race, kind; to beget, produce”
Modern English
English
miscegenation
“Intermarriage or sexual union between people of different racial groups”
Explore more surprising origins