demographic
This term carries a clinical, analytical tone often associated with marketing, sociology, or political campaigning. It strips away individual identity to treat people as data points or segments in a larger spreadsheet, focusing on categories like age, income, or ethnicity to predict behavior. While it is a neutral technical term, using it in a social context can feel cold or dehumanizing. For example, calling a group of friends a demographic suggests a strategic or observational perspective rather than a personal connection.
Countable when referring to a specific group targeted by a brand (the youth demographic). Uncountable when referring to the general study of population statistics (demographic data).
Meanings
A particular sector of a population sharing certain characteristics.
"The target demographic for the new app is Gen Z students."