intersectional

adjective in·ter·sec·tion·al \ ˌin-tər-ˈsek-shnəl , -shə-nᵊl \

|Updated on: 22 Jun 2018

Definition of intersectional

1 a : of or relating to intersectionality

Because the intersectional experience is greater than the sum of racism and sexism, any analysis that does not take intersectionality into account cannot sufficiently address the particular manner in which Black women are subordinated.
—Kimberlé Crenshaw

b : involving members of multiple social categories

… I was near my home, in the midst of a multiracial, multigenerational, intersectional protest. I joined hundreds of others in the streets.
—Kira Banks

[inter- + ¹sectional]

: existing between sections

intersectional war

an intersectional game

3 : of or relating to an intersection

intersectional joints/lines

Recent Examples of intersectional from the Web

Of course, the criticisms of this blanket condemnation of men — from transnational feminists who decry such glib universalism to U.S. women of color who demand an intersectional perspective — are mostly on the mark.

— andrew sullivan, Daily Intelligencer, "Trump Is Making Us All Live in His Delusional Reality Show," 15 June 2018
Setting up an annual game against an ACC or SEC team would provide a cool intersectional matchup at the start of bowl season.

— andy staples, SI.com, "Joe Moorhead’s Goal Isn’t Just to Win at Mississippi State. It’s to Win Championships.," 11 June 2018
In addition to the Downview banners, the march will include intersectional voices with creations by LGBTQ foundations, schools, refugee centers and more.

— meilan solly, Smithsonian, "What to Know About This Weekend’s Centennial British Suffrage March," 7 June 2018
As the feminist movement continues to evolve, our feminism must be intersectional.

— refinery29.com, "Cynthia Nixon On "Being A Miranda" 20 Years After Sex And The City Premiered," 6 June 2018
Crenshaw and Butler’s combined influence would become foundational to the third wave’s embrace of the fight for trans rights as a fundamental part of intersectional feminism.

— constance grady, Vox, "The waves of feminism, and why people keep fighting over them, explained," 1 June 2018
This year, Cole said, organizers wanted to be more intersectional by centering their local march around LGBTQ people and people of color.

— NBC News, "At 2nd annual Women's March, some protesters left 'pussy hats' behind," 23 Jan. 2018
There's an attempt to be intersectional, to break with some of the insularity of the first season, that's admirably if not always smoothly handled.

— daniel fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Handmaid's Tale' Season 2: TV Review," 16 Apr. 2018
Navigating the wealth divide also necessitates an intersectional lens that evaluates the problem not just from the perspective of race, but also one that is inclusive of gender.

— lincoln anthony blades, Teen Vogue, "Wealth Inequality 101: What to Know About Wealth Inequality in America," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'intersectional.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.