multiculturalismn.
/ˌmʌltɪˈkʌltʃ(ə)rəlɪz(ə)m/, /ˌmʌltɪˈkʌltʃ(ə)rl̩ɪz(ə)m/, U.S. /ˌməltiˈkəl(t)ʃ(ə)rəˌlɪz(ə)m/, /ˌməltaɪˈkəl(t)ʃ(ə)rəˌlɪz(ə)m/; see also multi- comb. form. The characteristics of a multicultural society; (also) the policy or process whereby the distinctive identities of the cultural groups within such a society are maintained or supported.
ΘΚΠ
society > society and the community > customs, values, and civilization > [noun] > existence of two or more cultures
pluralism1924
biculturalism1953
biculturation1955
multiculturalism1957
multiculturism1975
multiculti1989
1957 Hispania 40 349 The key to successful living here, as it is in Switzerland, is multilingualism, which can carry with it rich multiculturalism.
1965 Prelim. Rep. Royal Comm. Bilingualism & Biculturalism (Canada) iii. 46 The answer they often gave was ‘multiculturalism’, or, more elaborately, ‘the Canadian mosaic’.
1971 Daily Colonist (Victoria, Brit. Columbia) 9 Oct. 5/2 A policy of multiculturalism within a bilingual framework commends itself to the government as the most suitable means of assuring the cultural freedom of Canadians.
1973 Stornoway Gaz. 30 June 9/4 A Gaelic Society that has outgrown its original meeting place in just a few short years and enabled the Gaels to meet the new and promising challenge of Multiculturalism.
1988 Courier-Mail (Brisbane) 14 June 8/1 Professor Blainey's claim that multi-culturalism is another name for ethnic discrimination.
1990 Marxism Today Mar. 31/3 The policy of multiculturalism..has been widely adopted as a more tolerant way forward than full integration into a ‘British way of life’.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
<
n.1957