Explore clear definitions and examples of race and ethnicity to better understand what the terms mean and when they might overlap. If it seems like the distinctions between race and ethnicity are confusing, unsatisfying or unclear, you’re onto something. The main difference between race and ethnicity is that 'race' is understood as the division of human beings, depending on their biological attributes such as skin colour, built, hair, height, eye colour, etc.On the other hand, 'ethnicity' refers to the state of being from a specific social or cultural group, which follows a particular tradition or religion or speak a particular language. The difference between race and ethnicity matters because each term points to a different part of identity. One usually refers to socially recognized physical groupings, while the other connects more closely to shared culture, ancestry, language, traditions and history. What's the difference between Ethnicity and Race? The traditional definition of race and ethnicity is related to biological and sociological factors respectively. Race refers to a person's physical characteristics, such as bone structure and skin, hair, or eye color. Ethnicity, however, refers to cultural. The Difference between 'Race' and 'Ethnicity' How they differ and overlap What to Know Today, race refers to a group sharing some outward physical characteristics and some commonalities of culture and history. Ethnicity refers to markers acquired from the group with which one shares cultural, traditional, and familial bonds. What's the difference between race, ethnicity, and nationality? We explain all three concepts, with helpful examples. Race refers to dividing people into groups based on their physical appearance, while ethnicity refers to the identification of people from different geographic regions, including their religion, language, and other customs. Generally, race is something that you inherit as an identity, while ethnicity is something that you learn over time. Learn the difference between race and ethnicity with simple definitions, real-life examples, and common mistakes to avoid. Clear, student-friendly guide. The difference between race and ethnicity then? Whereas physical characteristics mostly determine a person's race, a person's culture, language, family and place of origin determine ethnicity.