1. beliefs, customs, or practices that are considered distinctive of a particular group and used to identify members or exclude outsiders
Usage: plural form of shibboleth
2. words or phrases that are difficult for foreigners to pronounce correctly and are used as tests of nationality or group membership
Usage: plural form of shibboleth; historical

Examples

• The political party’s shibboleths about economic policy alienated moderate voters.
• Academic shibboleths often prevent meaningful dialogue between different schools of thought.
• She rejected the cultural shibboleths of her generation and forged her own path.
• The organization’s shibboleths served more to exclude than to unite people.
• During wartime, soldiers used linguistic shibboleths to identify enemy infiltrators.
• These outdated shibboleths no longer reflect the reality of modern society.