racial

adjective

ra·​cial ˈrā-shəl 

1

: of, relating to, or based on a race (see race entry 1 sense 1a)

a racial minority

2

: existing or occurring between races (see race entry 1 sense 1a)

racial equality

racially

ˈrā-shə-lē 

adverb

see also:

racial group

Synonyms of racial

• ethnic
• ethnical

Examples of racial in a Sentence

What is your racial identity?

There was racial tension on campus.

Recent Examples on the Web

At that time, the murder of George Floyd dominated headlines and Rusnak had read an article about Stacy’s killing in the wake of the racial uprisings in the aftermath of Floyd’s death. — Raisa Habersham, Miami Herald, 9 Sep. 2026

Chinese resistance in the courts, and outside them, guaranteed that racial laws would not dictate reality. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026

Nearly a century later, Congress passed the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of 1965, seeking to end the persistent discrimination and racial violence against Black Americans. — Lisa Mascaro, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Such scrutiny facilitated racial profiling, especially against Muslim Americans and those of Middle Eastern descent. — Michael E. Neagle, Hartford Courant, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

race entry 1 + -ial

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing racial

• post-racial
• racial group

Rhymes for racial

• facial
• glacial
• spacial
• spatial
• bifacial
• biracial
• palatial
• postglacial
• preglacial
• subglacial
• craniofacial
• interfacial

Kids Definition

racial

adjective

ra·​cial ˈrā-shəl 

: of, relating to, or based on race

racially

-shə-lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

racial

adjective

ra·​cial ˈrā-shəl 

: of, relating to, or based on a race