casta

caste; clique

noun KAH-stah Rare

Origin: From Portuguese 'casta' (pure breed), itself from Latin 'castus' (pure).

Usage Note

Casta primarily refers to the rigid hereditary social divisions of the Indian caste system, but in Italian political discourse it is widely used — often pejoratively — to mean a self-serving elite or ruling class (la casta politica). Do not confuse with casata (dynasty/noble house) or casto (chaste).

Examples

"La casta politica ignora i cittadini."

Natural Translation

The political caste ignores the citizens.

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