Caste Meaning
/kɑːst/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounAny of the hereditary social classes and subclasses of South Asian societies or similar found historically in other cultures.
nounA separate and fixed order or class of persons in society who chiefly associate with each other.
Sentence Examples
They have all converted to Islam, a religion that doesn't have a caste system.
He's a member of the ancient priestly caste.
CEFR Practice Quiz
In some societies, your ____ determines your job and social standing from birth.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The traditional ____ system in India once divided society into groups.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Portuguese or Spanish casta (“lineage, breed, race”), which the OED derives from Portuguese casto (“chaste”), from Latin castus (“chaste"; "chastity”), Coromines (1987) argues instead for a hypothetical Gothic form *𐌺𐌰𐍃𐍄𐍃 (*kasts, “group, collection of animals”), cognate with English cast, from Proto-Germanic *kastuz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂ǵ-es-.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Pakistan is a conservative, religious state. The Edhi Foundation is unusual in its ignoring of caste, creed, religion and sect. This strict stance has led to some criticism from religious groups."
— 2017 April 6, Samira Shackle, “On the frontline with Karachi’s ambulance drivers”, in the Guardian:
"Ah! Can you give me all I've asked for — not now, nor a few months later, but when you begin to think of what you might have done if you had kept your own appointment and your caste here — when you begin to look upon me as a drag and a burden?"
— 1889, Rudyard Kipling, “The Hill of Illusion”, in Under the Deodars, Boston: The Greenock Press, published 1899, page 86:
"'I believe, Messieurs, in loyalty - to one's friends and one's family and one's caste.'"
— 1934, Agatha Christie, chapter 5, in Murder on the Orient Express, London: HarperCollins, published 2017, page 236:
"The tinkers then formed a hereditary caste."
— 1911, Thomas Babington Macaulay, “Bunyan, John”, in 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica:
"It was an evidence of the peculiar nature of caste in country towns[.]"
— 1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, →OCLC, page 89:
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
In some societies, your ____ determines your job and social standing from birth.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The traditional ____ system in India once divided society into groups.