racial

adjective

ra·​cial ˈrā-shəl How to pronounce racial (audio)
Synonyms of racialnext
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 adverb

Examples of racial in a Sentence

What is your racial identity? There was racial tension on campus.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The teams had been developed by the non-profit Project Blue not only to provide an extracurricular opportunity for the kids, but to bridge the differences between two communities historically divided along racial lines and by gang violence. Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 23 Jan. 2026 Vance said accusations of racial profiling are concerning, but said there needs to be more fact-finding if the incident actually occurred. Caroline Cummings, CBS News, 23 Jan. 2026 During the demonstrations for racial justice in 2020, protestors across the country defaced and tore down statues of Washington, arguing that enslavers should be reviled, not honored. John Garrison Marks, Time, 23 Jan. 2026 For its time, his campaign was unconventionally online, leaning into digital media, from skateboarding videos in a Whataburger parking lot to generating celebrity buzz for defending athletes racial justice protests. Philip Jankowski, Dallas Morning News, 23 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for racial

Word History

Etymology

race entry 1 + -ial

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of racial was in 1854

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Racial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racial. Accessed 26 Jan. 2026.

Kids Definition

racial

adjective
ra·​cial ˈrā-shəl How to pronounce racial (audio)
: of, relating to, or based on race
racially adverb

Medical Definition

racial

adjective
ra·​cial ˈrā-shəl How to pronounce racial (audio)
: of, relating to, or based on a race

More from Merriam-Webster on racial

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!