Definition

1. Noun:
   • An outdated and offensive anthropological classification for certain peoples of East Asia, Central Asia, and the Americas: The term "Mongoloid race" was historically used in now-discredited typological models of human racial classification. It is considered scientifically invalid and socially offensive.

Usage Notes

• The term "Mongoloid race" is archaic, offensive, and should be avoided in modern academic and social contexts. Its use perpetuates harmful racial stereotypes and pseudoscientific ideas.
• Modern anthropology and genetics reject the concept of biological human races as discrete categories. Human genetic variation is continuous and does not align with historical racial labels.
• When referring to the peoples historically grouped under this term, use specific, respectful, and accurate descriptors based on geography, ethnicity, or nationality (e.g., East Asian peoples, Indigenous peoples of the Americas).

Examples of Historical Usage (for understanding context only)

• (This statement describes a historical concept, not a current fact.)

Advanced Usage

• The term is sometimes encountered in historical texts or older legal documents. It is crucial to understand its context as an obsolete and harmful classification, not a valid descriptor.

Variants and Related Words

• Mongoloid (adj/n): The adjectival form is similarly outdated and offensive, particularly when used to describe people. Its only acceptable modern use is in specific medical terminology (e.g., "mongoloid" features in Down syndrome), but even this is being replaced by more precise, person-first language.
• Mongolian (adj): Correctly refers to something from Mongolia (the country), e.g., Mongolian culture, the Mongolian language.
• East Asian (adj): A modern, appropriate term for people or cultures from East Asia.

Synonyms (for the outdated concept)

• None Acceptable: There are no acceptable modern synonyms for this outdated racial category. Use specific, non-racial terms as described in the Usage Notes.

Related Phrases

• Race (in historical context): A social construct used to categorize humans based on perceived physical traits, now understood to have no consistent biological basis.
• Human variation: The preferred scientific framework for discussing genetic and phenotypic differences among human populations.

Important Note

Explaining this term requires a clear statement on its inappropriateness. It is presented here solely for educational purposes to understand historical context and to clarify why it must not be used in contemporary language.

Noun

1. an Asian race