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assimilation

uh-sim-uh-LAY-shuhn /əˌsɪm.əˈleɪ.ʃən/

nounC1GRESATTOEFLUPSC

academicsociological

The process by which a minority group or culture comes to resemble the dominant society's values, behaviors, and beliefs, often losing its distinct original identity.

In sociological contexts, assimilation often carries a connotation of forced or complete erasure of original identity.

The story behind the word. Derived from Latin 'similis' (meaning like or similar), assimilation originally described the process of making things similar to one another or absorbing nutrients into the biological body before being applied to social engineering in the 19th century.

Word relationships

absorption: 'Absorption' emphasizes the complete disappearance of a smaller entity into a larger body.
acculturation: 'Acculturation' involves adapting to a new culture while maintaining original cultural roots, whereas 'assimilation' involves replacing them.

preservation: 'Preservation' means keeping original traditions alive rather than replacing them.
segregation: 'Segregation' refers to keeping cultural or racial groups strictly separated.

Commonly confused with

integration: 'Integration' combines distinct groups into a shared framework without destroying original identities; 'assimilation' requires shedding original identity.

Word family

assimilate (verb): To absorb or integrate people, ideas, or culture into a wider society.
assimilative (adjective): Tending to cause assimilation.

Collocations

forced assimilation
cultural assimilation
policy of assimilation
rapid assimilation

Idioms & expressions

melting pot

Example sentences

"Forced linguistic assimilation in 19th-century boarding schools suppressed native languages." Sociological analysis
"Critics argue that total cultural assimilation destroys valuable heritage and social diversity." Policy discussion

Memory hook

Assimilation makes two different cultures SIMILAR to each other. Make SIMILAR; absorb into the same mold.

When not to use

Do not confuse with 'integration', where minority groups retain their distinct heritage while participating in wider society.

Fun facts

In linguistics, 'assimilation' describes how a sound becomes similar to a neighboring sound, like how 'in-possible' turns into 'impossible'.

Explore more words

assimilate, integrate, acculturation, homogenization, diffusion, internalization