What term describes a population characterized by a shared language or common descent?

The term that aptly describes a population characterized by a shared language or common descent is an ethnic group. Ethnic groups form when individuals identify with one another based on shared cultural traits, such as language, ancestry, and customs. This communal identity often plays a significant role in shaping social dynamics, cultural heritage, and personal identification among individuals.

While a nation-state refers to a political entity characterized by a defined territory and governance, it may comprise multiple ethnic groups functioning within it. An empire usually denotes a larger political structure that controls diverse territories and peoples, often across different ethnic lines. Culture pertains more broadly to the shared practices, values, and artifacts of a community rather than strictly the lineage or linguistic ties that characterize an ethnic group. Therefore, recognizing the specific attributes of an ethnic group—linguistic and ancestral commonalities—clarifies why it is the precise term in this context.