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

Your book deals with a piece of legislation called the Rumford Act that would tear down the city’s racist racial housing covenants in 1963, but the act in ’62 had enemies in high places, namely Mayor Sam Yorty and his power base. — Marc Weingarten, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026

That federal expansion provided up to $3,600 per child under age 6 and $3,000 for children ages 6 through 17, and researchers linked it to a sharp drop in child poverty and reduced hardship across racial and ethnic groups. — Kelly Phillips Erb, Forbes.com, 27 June 2026

Alito’s insistence on ignoring the possibility of someone using a pretext to engage in racial discrimination is actually quite selective. — Adam Serwer, The Atlantic, 27 June 2026

Many are prioritizing causes such as climate change, racial justice, and gender equity over other generations’ broader focus on topics like health and education. — Preston Fore, Fortune, 27 June 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