caste

plural castes

1. Any of the hereditary social classes and subclasses of South Asian societies or similar found historically in other cultures.

   Pakistan is a conservative, religious state. The Edhi Foundation is unusual in its ignoring of caste, creed, religion and sect. This strict stance has led to some criticism from religious groups.

   2017 April 6, Samira Shackle, “On the frontline with Karachi’s ambulance drivers”, in the Guardian

2. A separate and fixed order or class of persons in society who chiefly associate with each other.

   The tinkers then formed a hereditary caste.

   1911, Thomas Babington Macaulay, “Bunyan, John”, in 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica

   2 more examples

   Ah! Can you give me all I've asked for — not now, nor a few months later, but when you begin to think of what you might have done if you had kept your own appointment and your caste here — when you begin to look upon me as a drag and a burden?

   1889, Rudyard Kipling, “The Hill of Illusion”, in Under the Deodars, Boston: The Greenock Press, published 1899, page 86

   'I believe, Messieurs, in loyalty - to one's friends and one's family and one's caste.'

   1934, Agatha Christie, chapter 5, in Murder on the Orient Express, London: HarperCollins, published 2017, page 236

3. uncountableThe division of society into castes; the caste system.

   It was an evidence of the peculiar nature of caste in country towns[.]

   1930, Norman Lindsay, Redheap, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, →OCLC, page 89

4. biologyA class of polymorphous eusocial insects of a particular size and function within a colony.

   In beehives, most bees belong to the worker caste.