The systematic removal of an ethnic or religious group from a particular territory through deportation, forced migration, or extermination. This practice aims to create ethnically homogeneous regions by eliminating unwanted populations.
A euphemistic translation of Serbo-Croatian 'etničko čišćenje,' popularized during the 1990s Yugoslav Wars. The term combines 'ethnic' (from Greek 'ethnikos,' relating to a people) with 'cleansing,' using sanitization metaphors to disguise violent population removal.
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