termilology and definition

"ethnicity" and "ethnic group" are derived from the Greek word ἔθνος ethnos, normalThe terms ly translated as "nation." The terms refer currently to people thought to have common ancestry who share a distinctive culture.
The term "ethnic" and related forms from the 14th century through the middle of the 19th century were used in English in the meaning of "pagan, heathen", as ethnikos was used as the LXX translation of Hebrew goyim "the nations, non-Hebrews, non-Jews".