assimilation
uh-sim-uh-LAY-shun
/əˌsɪm.ɪˈleɪ.ʃən/
The process whereby minority groups absorb the culture of a dominant group, often resulting in the loss of original identity.
In historical and political contexts, it frequently implies coerced state policy aimed at erasing indigenous or minority cultures.
The story behind the word. From Latin assimilare, combining ad- ('to') and similis ('like'). It originally meant making something similar to something else, before becoming a core concept in 19th-century sociology to describe cultural absorption.
Word relationships
- acculturation: 'Acculturation' involves adopting elements of another culture while keeping original identity; 'assimilation' implies absorbing dominant culture to the loss of original identity.
- absorption: 'Absorption' is a general term for blending in completely.
- pluralism: Coexistence of distinct cultural groups within one society.
- preservation: Keeping original culture intact.
Commonly confused with
- simulation: 'Simulation' is an imitation or model, whereas 'assimilation' is absorption into a dominant culture.
Word family
- assimilate (verb): To absorb or integrate into a dominant group
- assimilative (adjective): Tending to cause assimilation
Collocations
- forced assimilation
- cultural assimilation
- policy of assimilation
- rapid assimilation
Example sentences
- "Residential school systems were explicitly designed to enforce cultural assimilation." Sociological research
- "Forced language assimilation often results in the extinction of heritage tongues within two generations." Linguistic history
Memory hook
ASSIMILATE = make SIMILAR to the dominant group. Make similar.
When not to use
Do not confuse with multicultural integration, where distinct cultural identities are preserved.
Fun facts
- Before its sociological use, 'assimilation' was primarily a biological term describing how living organisms convert food into body tissue.
Related words
Explore more words
assimilate, integrate, acculturation, homogenization, diffusion, internalization
Also appears in
- Relationships → Peer Pressure & Conformity
- Travel & Culture → Cultural Diversity & Customs
- Travel & Culture → Cultural Globalization
- Demographics & Urban Studies → Rural-to-Urban Migration
- Psychology → Child & Adolescent Development
- Sociology & Social Anthropology → Tribal Communities & Integration
- Sociology & Social Anthropology → Cultural Assimilation & Pluralism
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