Definitions for Caste
kæst, kɑstcaste

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. castenoun

   social status or position conferred by a system based on class

   "lose caste by doing work beneath one's station"

2. castenoun

   (Hinduism) a hereditary social class among Hindus; stratified according to ritual purity

3. castenoun

   a social class separated from others by distinctions of hereditary rank or profession or wealth

4. castenoun

   in some social insects (such as ants) a physically distinct individual or group of individuals specialized to perform certain functions in the colony

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. castenoun

   Any of the hereditary social classes and subclasses of South Asian societies.

2. Etymology: From or casta, of uncertain origin. The OED derives it from casto, from castus.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Caste

   Caste is a form of social stratification characterised by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultural notions of purity and pollution. Its paradigmatic ethnographic example is the division of India's Hindu society into rigid social groups, with roots in south Asia's ancient history and persisting to the present time. However, the economic significance of the caste system in India has been declining as a result of urbanisation and affirmative action programs. A subject of much scholarship by sociologists and anthropologists, the Hindu caste system is sometimes used as an analogical basis for the study of caste-like social divisions existing outside Hinduism and India. The term "caste" is also applied to morphological groupings in eusocial insects such as ants, bees, and termites.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. caste

   Caste is a traditional social hierarchy system, particularly common in countries like India, where individuals are born into a certain socio-economic status and occupational group. This system, based principally on heredity, often determines a person's social status, roles, lifestyle, privileges, and limitations. Membership in a caste is typically lifelong and immutable. Castes might also be associated with rigid rules on intermarriage and social interaction.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Castenoun

   one of the hereditary classes into which the Hindoos are divided according to the laws of Brahmanism

2. Castenoun

   a separate and fixed order or class of persons in society who chiefly hold intercourse among themselves

3. Etymology: [Pg. casta race, lineage, fr. L. castus pure, chaste: cf. F. caste, of same origin.]

WikidataRate this definition:3.5 / 6 votes

1. Caste

   Caste is a form of social stratification characterized by endogamy, hereditary transmission of a style of life which often includes an occupation, ritual status in a hierarchy, and customary social interaction and exclusion based on cultural notions of purity and pollution. Its paradigmatic ethnographic example is the division of India's Hindu society into rigid social groups, with roots in India's ancient history and persisting until today. However, the economic significance of the caste system in India has been declining as a result of urbanization and affirmative action programs. A subject of much scholarship by sociologists and anthropologists, the Hindu caste system is sometimes used as an analogical basis for the study of caste-like social divisions existing outside Hinduism and India. According to UNICEF and Human Rights Watch, caste discrimination affects an estimated 250 million people worldwide.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Caste

   käst, n. a term applied chiefly to distinct classes or sections of society in India, and, in a modified sense, to social distinctions of an exclusive nature among other nations.—Lose caste, to descend in social rank. [A name given by the Portuguese to the classes of people in India; Port. casta, breed, race.—L. castus, pure, unmixed.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Caste

   rank in society of an exclusive nature due to birth or origin, such as prevails among the Hindus especially. Among them there are originally two great classes, the twice-born and the once-born, i. e. those who have passed through a second birth, and those who have not; of the former there are three grades, Brahmans, or the priestly caste, from the mouth of Brahma; Kshatriyas, or the soldier caste, from the hands of Brahma; and Vaisyas, or the agricultural caste, from the feet of Brahma; while the latter are of one rank and are menial to the other, called Sudras, earth-born all; notwithstanding which distinction often members of the highest class sink socially to the lowest level, and members of the lowest rise socially to the highest.

The Roycroft DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. caste

   A Chinese Wall that deprives you of the society of sensible people.

Matched Categories

1. • Hinduism
   • Animal Group
   • Class
   • Entomology
   • Status

Anagrams for Caste »

1. sceat

2. Stace

How to pronounce Caste?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Caste in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Caste in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Caste in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of Caste in a Sentence

1. Maya Kamble:

   If you are reading this and you marched in the Black Lives Matter movement or you desire to live in a society free of racism, racial discrimination, sexism or misogyny, then you should be paying attention, because while caste oppression or discrimination does not affect all Americans, the way it manifests itself is no different than other types of oppression under capitalism.

2. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar:

   Caste is not a physical object like a wall of bricks or a line of barbed wire which prevents the Hindus from Co-mingling and which has, therefore, to be pulled down. Caste is a notion; it is a state of the mind.

3. John Marshall Harlan:

   In view of the Constitution, in the eye of the law, there is in this country no superior, dominant, ruling class of citizens. There is no caste here. Our Constitution is colorblind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens.

4. Tanuja Gupta:

   If there’s going to be a state that pioneers (protections against) caste discrimination, this is the perfect state. And if this state can show that it’s possible, there’s no excuse for any other state to not have (protections against) caste discrimination.

5. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar:

   Nothing can emancipate the outcaste except the destruction of the caste system.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=Caste
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Caste
3. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caste
4. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
5. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Caste
6. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=Caste
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=Caste
8. ^ The Nuttall Encyclopedia
   https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/12342/pg12342-images.html#Caste
9. ^ The Roycroft Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/36566/36566-h/36566-h.htm#:~:text=Caste