razze

Razze is an Italian noun whose plural is razze and whose singular is razza. It has several related meanings that vary by context. In biological and agricultural contexts, razza denotes a breed, strain, or a recognized population within a species. It is used to describe defined groups in which members share heritable traits such as morphology, color, or performance characteristics, and it supports breeding, veterinary work, and conservation efforts.

In human contexts, razza historically referred to a "race" in the sense of a population sharing ancestry. In modern Italian, this usage is controversial and increasingly viewed as inappropriate or outdated. Many scholars and policymakers prefer terms like etnia (ethnicity) or popolazione (population) to avoid essentialist or discriminatory implications. When razza appears in contemporary writing about people, it is often in historical or analytical discussions rather than as a neutral descriptor.

Usage and scope: The term appears in scientific discussions of domesticated animals and livestock, as well as in ethnographic, historical, or literary texts. In discussions of human groups, experts typically recommend alternatives to minimize connotations associated with racial classification. In contrast, razza remains a standard term in veterinary, zoological, and agricultural literature for describing defined animal lineages and breeding programs, where it denotes objective, heritable differentiation within a species.