Meaning & use
cultural markers
Last updated
Meanings
nounplural
signs such as language, dress, food, or customs that show a person's cultural background or identity.
Grammar: Always plural; use with a plural verb, e.g. 'Cultural markers are important.' For one sign, say 'a cultural marker'.
Patterns
- cultural markers of something
- cultural markers in something
- serve as cultural markers
The way people greet each other can be a cultural marker of respect.
In her novel, food and music act as cultural markers that reveal the characters' origins.
Researchers study cultural markers such as clothing and dialect to understand group identity.
nounpluraltechnical
features in a society or text that indicate cultural values or belong to a particular culture.
Grammar: Often used in academic contexts with 'of' to specify the culture or group.
Patterns
- cultural markers of identity
- cultural markers in literature
- identify cultural markers
The film is full of cultural markers that only local audiences would recognize.
Anthropologists look for cultural markers in everyday objects like tools and toys.
The museum exhibit highlights cultural markers from immigrant communities.
Common combinations
- cultural marker of identity
- Language is a powerful cultural marker of identity.
- recognize cultural markers
- Travelers quickly learn to recognize cultural markers in a new country.
- shared cultural markers
- The two groups have shared cultural markers, such as a common festival.
- cultural markers in literature
- Students analyzed cultural markers in literature from different periods.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cultural signifiers
- More formal and academic; often used in semiotics and cultural theory.
- cultural indicators
- Focuses on measurable signs of cultural change or difference, common in social science.
Word family
- cultural adjective
- Relating to the ideas, customs, and social behavior of a group.
- marker noun
- A sign or object that shows where something is or what it is.
- culturally adverb
- In a way that relates to culture.
Commonly confused: cultural markers or cultural marker?
cultural markers vs cultural marker
Singular form; use it for one sign, e.g. 'a cultural marker', not for the general idea.
Practice
In the sentence 'Language and food are important cultural markers of identity,' what does 'cultural markers' mean?
Choose one answer.
The context 'of identity' shows that 'cultural markers' are signs of cultural background. The other options are unrelated to culture.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “cultural markers”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.