caste
KAHST
/kɑːst/
A rigid social class system or hereditary rank into which individuals are born and from which they cannot escape.
Implies an unchangeable, birth-assigned social rank, unlike 'class' which allows economic mobility.
The story behind the word. When 16th-century Portuguese explorers arrived in India, they observed endogamous social groups and called them 'casta', meaning 'pure breed' or 'race', derived from the Latin 'castus' (pure). English adopted the word as 'caste' in the 17th century to describe these rigid hereditary divisions.
Word relationships
- social rank: 'Social rank' is a general term, whereas 'caste' specifically implies fixed, hereditary stratification.
- order: 'Order' can refer to any structured grouping, while 'caste' implies rigid, closed social status.
- meritocracy: A 'meritocracy' rewards individuals based on ability and effort rather than birth status.
Commonly confused with
- cast: 'Cast' refers to actors in a play or throwing an object, whereas 'caste' refers to a rigid social class.
Word family
- casteless (adjective): Lacking or not divided into social castes.
Collocations
- caste system
- caste barriers
- upper caste
- lower caste
Idioms & expressions
- lose caste
Example sentences
- "The social activist dedicated her life to eradicating the deeply entrenched caste system." Sociological analysis
- "In India, caste has meant for millions an unbending sentence to degrading work." Historical literature
Memory hook
Think of a 'cast' made of plaster: once set, a caste system is completely rigid and unyielding. Rigid like a plaster cast.
When not to use
Do not use 'caste' to describe flexible economic classes where individuals can move up or down through work or education.
Fun facts
- The Portuguese originally used 'casta' to refer to animal breeds before applying it to human social groups in Asia.
Related words
Explore more words
mobility, stratification, dynasty, hereditary, segregation, immutable
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