What term describes the blending of one culture into another?

The term that describes the blending of one culture into another is assimilation. This process occurs when individuals or groups adopt the cultural norms of another group, often leading to a loss of their original cultural identity in the process. Assimilation involves the incorporation of the customs, values, and practices of a dominant culture, which can result in a homogenization of cultural differences.

Understanding this concept is crucial as it highlights how cultures can change and evolve over time in response to one another, often due to migration, colonization, or globalization. While integration refers more to coexistence and mutual inclusion of different cultures, acculturation specifically focuses on the exchange of cultural features while still retaining some original elements. Cultural exchange describes an interaction where two or more cultures share and influence each other without necessarily leading to a blending into a singular culture. Therefore, assimilation emphasizes the transformative process where the original cultural identities become less distinct, making it the most accurate term for the blending described in the question.