multiculturalism

From multicultural +‎ -ism.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˌmʌltɪˈkʌltʃəɹəˌlɪz(ə)m/

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

multiculturalism (countable and uncountable, plural multiculturalisms)

1. The characteristics of a society, city etc. which has many different ethnic or national cultures mingling freely; political or social policies which support or encourage such coexistence. [from 20th c.]
   • 1984, David Malouf, A First Place, Vintage 2015, p. 18:

     The truth is that diversity, a kind of multiculturalism if we want to call it that, is the norm in any society.

   • 1991 April 8, Barbara Ehrenreich, “Essay: Teach Diversity -- with a Smile”, in Time:

     Something had to replace the threat of communism, and at last a workable substitute is at hand. "Multiculturalism," as the new menace is known, has been denounced in the media recently as the new McCarthyism, the new fundamentalism, even the new totalitarianism -- take your choice.

   • 2005 August 3, David Davis MP, Daily Telegraph:

     Britain has pursued a policy of multiculturalism - allowing people of different cultures to settle without expecting them to integrate into society.

   • 2011 April 7, “On a mat and a prayer”, in The Economist:

     Earlier this year he said multiculturalism had “failed”, that immigrants needed to “melt” into French society, and that “we do not want ostentatious prayers in the street in France.”

• multicultural
• multiculturally
• multicultured

• cosmopolitan
• culturism