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English

Caucasians

|cau/cas/i/ans|

C1

/kɔːˈkeɪʒənz/

(Caucasian)

White race

Base FormPluralNoun
CaucasianCaucasiansCaucasians
Etymology
Etymology Information

'Caucasian' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'Caucasius', ultimately from Greek 'Kaukasis' (Κάυκασις), the name of the Caucasus mountain region.

Historical Evolution

'Caucasian' changed from classical/medieval geographic names for the region (Greek 'Kaukasis' → Latin 'Caucasus'/'Caucasius') and later was adopted in English as 'Caucasian' to mean someone from that region; in the 18th–19th centuries the term was extended in anthropology to label a 'Caucasian race'.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it meant 'of or from the Caucasus region', but over time it evolved into an anthropological and common usage meaning 'a member of the Caucasian (white/European) race' in some contexts.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

plural form of 'Caucasian'.

Caucasians are represented in the population census.

Synonyms

Noun 2

plural form of 'Caucasian': people originating from the Caucasus region (the area between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea).

Historically, many Caucasians lived in small mountain communities in the Caucasus.

Synonyms

Noun 3

plural form of 'Caucasian': (in anthropological or common‑use contexts) people classified as 'Caucasian' — often used to mean white people or people of European origin (usage and scope vary by context and is sometimes considered imprecise or outdated).

In some demographic reports, Caucasians were listed as a separate category.

Synonyms

Antonyms

people of colornon‑Caucasians

Last updated: 2025/10/31 08:23