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

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

The former president, who successfully pushed to end the requirement in 2020, said the racial and class equity logic that drove that decision deserves a second look. — Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 9 July 2026

The Italian parliament is advancing legislation to create a formal process for restituting art and cultural property looted by the Nazis under Italian Fascist racial laws. — Anne Doran, ARTnews.com, 8 July 2026

Nationally, American Indian and Alaska Natives have the highest teen pregnancy rate among racial and ethnic groups. — Selena Simmons-Duffin, NPR, 8 July 2026

The Collaborative’s grantees span social justice movements, cultural strategy, and entertainment, working on issues from racial justice to immigrant rights to climate migration. — Afdhel Aziz, Forbes.com, 8 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

race entry 1 + -ial

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing racial

• post-racial

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