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

Of those 38 films, 15 had a female lead/co-lead from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group, and 3 had a female lead/co-lead 45 years of age or older. — Angelique Jackson, Variety, 13 Aug. 2026

Because of the racial melting pot and LGBTQIA+ demographics of the league, the WNBA sits directly on this country’s current cultural and political fault lines. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 12 Aug. 2026

Witnesses said the suspect yelled racial slurs at the victim, officials said. — Jessica Baltaxe, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026

Still, because Reese is Black, the comment was quickly given a racial interpretation. — Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 11 Aug. 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