Easterners

Easterners is a descriptive term used to refer to people who live in the eastern part of a given region or country. It is not, in itself, a formal ethnic group, nationality, or language. The exact meaning depends on context and geography. In historical European discourse, “easterners” sometimes referred broadly to populations east of a defined boundary, and in geopolitical terms the phrase has appeared in contrast to “westerners” during discussions of alliance, culture, or political influence. In other regions, the term has been used to identify residents of eastern provinces, states, or cities, again without implying a single ethnicity.

Because “eastern” is relative, the composition of those labeled easterners can be highly diverse, encompassing multiple ethnicities, languages, religions, and cultural practices. The label is primarily geographic rather than ethnographic, and its use can reflect perspective or discourse more than a concrete identity. In contemporary writing, it is often more precise to specify the exact area (for example, “eastern province residents” or “east coast residents”) to avoid ambiguity and stereotyping.

See also: East, West, Eastern Europe, East Asia, East Coast.