jati

/ˈdʒɑti/

In Hindu society, a jati is a kind of caste, or social group. There are thousands of different jatis in India.

Jati derives from the Sanskrit jāta, "born or brought into existence." While the word is most commonly used to mean a person's caste, which is determined from the minute they're born, it can also be used for other associations, including religious and linguistic groups.

Definitions of jati

1. noun

   (Hinduism) a Hindu caste or distinctive social group of which there are thousands throughout India; a special characteristic is often the exclusive occupation of its male members (such as barber or potter)
   type of:

   caste

   (Hinduism) a hereditary social class among Hindus; stratified according to ritual purity