- The definition of caste is a system of hierarchical social classes, or a specific social class of people.
- When you are of a high social status, this is an example of your caste.
- The Brahmins are an example of a caste in the Hindu culture.
- any of the distinct, hereditary Hindu social classes, each traditionally, but no longer officially, excluded from social dealings with the others
- any exclusive and restrictive social or occupational class or group
- rigid class distinction based on birth, wealth, etc., operating as a social system or principle
- any of the differentiated types of individuals in a colony of social insects
Origin of casteFrench ; from Portuguese casta, breed, race, caste ; from Classical Latin castus, pure, chaste, origin, originally , cut off, separated, past participle of carere, to be cut off from ; from Indo-European base an unverified form es-, to cut from source Middle Irish cess, spear
to lose social status or position
- Any of the hereditary, endogamous social classes or subclasses of traditional Hindu society, stratified according to Hindu ritual purity, especially the Brahman, Kshatriya, Vaisya, and Sudra castes.
- A social class separated from others by distinctions of hereditary rank, profession, or wealth.
- a. A social system or the principle of grading society based on castes.b. The social position or status conferred by a system based on castes: lose caste by doing work beneath one's station.
- A specialized level in a colony of social insects, such as ants, in which the members, such as workers or soldiers, carry out a specific function.
Origin of casteSpanish casta, race, and Portuguese casta, race, caste, both from feminine of casto, pure, from Latin castus; see kes- in Indo-European roots.