white anglo-saxon protestant
Noun: A member of a social group historically considered the dominant and most privileged class in the United States, characterized by being white, of English (Anglo-Saxon) descent, and belonging to a Protestant Christian denomination.
The term is used to describe a specific social and ethnic identity, often in historical, sociological, or cultural discussions about power, privilege, and heritage in American society. * The country's early political leadership was largely composed of white Anglo-Saxon Protestants. * Sociologists have studied the influence of white Anglo-Saxon Protestant values on American business culture.
- The term is often abbreviated as WASP.
- The novel satirizes the manners of East Coast WASP society.
- It can be used adjectivally (often hyphenated) to describe characteristics associated with this group.
- He came from a white-Anglo-Saxon-Protestant background.
- WASP (noun): The common acronym for "white Anglo-Saxon Protestant."
- Waspy (adjective, informal): Having the characteristics or attributes stereotypically associated with WASPs.
- Brahmin (especially in a New England context, referring to the old, elite families).
The term often carries connotations beyond the literal ethnic and religious description. It frequently implies: 1. Historical Privilege and Establishment: Connection to the traditional, often Northeastern, American elite. 2. Cultural Norms: Association with specific behavioral codes, manners, and values (e.g., restraint, understatement, emphasis on education and lineage). 3. In modern usage, it is often employed critically or analytically to examine structures of power and identity, rather than as a simple descriptive label.
- a white person of Anglo-Saxon ancestry who belongs to a Protestant denomination