cultural diversity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal/Academic/Professional
Quick answer
What does “cultural diversity” mean?
The existence of a variety of cultural groups within a society.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The existence of a variety of cultural groups within a society.
The co‑existence and interaction of different cultures, ethnicities, religions, languages, and traditions within a single community, organisation, or geographical area, often seen as a source of strength and enrichment.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning. Slightly more frequent in UK/EU policy discourse due to historical immigration patterns and integration policies. In the US, 'diversity' alone often implicitly includes cultural diversity.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries generally positive connotations of tolerance, enrichment, and social health. In some political discourses, can be contested (e.g., vs. 'assimilation' or 'national cohesion').
Frequency
High frequency in academic, corporate, and governmental contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “cultural diversity” in a Sentence
[verb] + cultural diversitycultural diversity + [verb]cultural diversity + of + [place/group]adjective + cultural diversityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cultural diversity” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The new policy aims to cultural‑diversity the curriculum.
- We need to better cultural‑diversity our hiring panels.
American English
- The program works to cultural‑diversity the leadership team.
- They are actively cultural‑diversifying their supplier base.
adverb
British English
- The team is cultural‑diversely composed.
- They managed the project cultural‑diversely.
American English
- The committee was cultural‑diversely representative.
- The festival was cultural‑diversely programmed.
adjective
British English
- The cultural‑diversity audit highlighted several gaps.
- We offer cultural‑diversity training for all staff.
American English
- The cultural‑diversity initiative has improved team morale.
- Her role focuses on cultural‑diversity outreach.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers to a workforce comprising people from different cultural backgrounds, seen as beneficial for innovation and global market understanding.
Academic
A key concept in sociology, anthropology, and education studies, examining interactions, inequalities, and policies related to different cultural groups.
Everyday
Used when discussing the mix of nationalities, languages, or traditions in a neighbourhood, school, or social group.
Technical
In ecology, sometimes used analogously for biodiversity of cultural practices or knowledge systems (e.g., 'agro‑cultural diversity').
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cultural diversity”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cultural diversity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cultural diversity”
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'a cultural diversity').
- Confusing with 'biodiversity'.
- Misspelling as 'cultural diversety'.
- Using in a negative context clashes with its typical positive semantic prosody.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Cultural diversity' describes the factual presence of multiple cultures. 'Multiculturalism' is often a political or social stance that actively promotes and values such diversity.
It's less accurate. 'Cultural diversity' specifically refers to culture (ethnicity, nationality, tradition). For different professional expertise, use 'diversity of thought', 'professional diversity', or 'disciplinary diversity'.
Yes, it is typically a non‑count noun phrase. Use it without an article (e.g., 'We promote cultural diversity') or with a determiner like 'the', 'this', 'our' when referring to a specific instance (e.g., 'The cultural diversity of London is remarkable').
Be specific. Instead of just 'we value cultural diversity', state how it manifests or is supported (e.g., 'Our project teams are deliberately composed to reflect the cultural diversity of our global client base').
The existence of a variety of cultural groups within a society.
Cultural diversity is usually formal/academic/professional in register.
Cultural diversity: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkʌltʃərəl daɪˈvɜːsəti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkʌltʃərəl dɪˈvɜːrsəti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a tapestry of cultures”
- “a melting pot (US, often implying assimilation)”
- “a salad bowl (US, often implying retention of distinct identities)”
- “a mosaic of cultures”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a CULTURE-AL (like a festival) where DIVERSE city‑dwellers (DIVERSE‑CITY) all share their traditions.
Conceptual Metaphor
CULTURAL DIVERSITY IS A GARDEN (needing nurturing) / IS A FABRIC (made of many threads) / IS WEALTH (a valuable resource).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the phrase 'cultural diversity' LEAST likely to be used?