What is Culture? | Definition of Culture



The word "culture" derives from a French term, which in turn derives from the Latin "colere," which means to tend to the earth and grow, or cultivation and nurture. "It shares its etymology with a number of other words related to actively fostering growth," Cristina De Rossi, an anthropologist at Barnet and Southgate College in London, told Live Science.

Many countries are largely populated by immigrants, and the culture is influenced by the many groups of people that now make up the country. This is also a part of growth. As the countries grow, so does its cultural diversity.  

Kazakh Jazz
Jazz music, which originated in the United States, has spread to other cultures. In this photo, the Soil & Pimp Sessions band plays at the Jazzystan Festival in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
Credit: Kristina Postnikova / Shutterstock.com

Western culture



Buddha statue
Eastern culture was heavily influenced by religion. This giant statue of Buddha overlooks Hong Kong.
Credit: Konstantin Sutyagin | Shutterstock

Eastern culture

Eastern culture generally refers to the societal norms of countries in Far East Asia (including China, Japan, Vietnam, North Korea and South Korea) and the Indian subcontinent. Like the West, Eastern culture was heavily influenced by religion during its early development, but it was also heavily influenced by the growth and harvesting of rice, according to the book "Pathways to Asian Civilizations: Tracing the Origins and Spread of Rice and Rice Cultures" by Dorian Q. Fuller. In general, in Eastern culture there is less of a distinction between secular society and religious philosophy than there is in the West.

Latin culture


El-Deir Monastery at Petra, Jordan
The El-Deir Monastery at Petra, Jordan, is an example of traditional Middle Eastern culture.
Credit: Zurijeta | Shutterstock

Middle Eastern culture


African culture




Constant change

No matter what culture a people are a part of, one thing is for certain, it will change. Culture appears to have become key in our interconnected world, which is made up of so many ethnically diverse societies, but also riddled by conflicts associated with religion, ethnicity, ethical beliefs, and, essentially, the elements which make up culture," said De Rossi.  "But culture is no longer fixed, if it ever was.  It is essentially fluid and constantly in motion." This makes it so that it is difficult to define any culture in only one way.

Additional reporting by Alina Bradford, Live Science Contributor

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