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caste

Pronunciation: /kɑːst/

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Definition of caste

noun

  • each of the hereditary classes of Hindu society, distinguished by relative degrees of ritual purity or pollution and of social status:members of the lower castes [mass noun]:a man of high caste
  • [mass noun] the system of dividing society into castes: caste has survived among Goa’s Christians [as modifier]:the caste system
  • any class or group of people who inherit exclusive privileges or are perceived as socially distinct:those educated in private schools belong to a privileged caste
  • Entomology (in some social insects) a class of physically distinct individuals with a particular function in the society: in both ants and termites the workers can include specialist castes such as soldiers

There are four basic classes or varnas in Hindu society: Brahman (priest), Kshatriya (warrior), Vaisya (merchant or farmer), and Sudra (labourer). The lowest class, the scheduled caste (formerly known as untouchables), fall outside the varna system and have historically suffered extreme discrimination

Phrases

lose caste

descend in the caste system, e.g. by taking employment regarded as of lower status.
come to be regarded with less respect; lose status: they lost caste by moving away from the old house

Origin:

mid 16th century (in the general sense 'race, breed'): from Spanish and Portuguese casta 'lineage, race, breed', feminine of casto 'pure, unmixed', from Latin castus 'chaste'

caste in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of caste in the US English dictionary

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