racial

adjective ra·cial \ ˈrā-shəl \

Definition of racial

1 :of, relating to, or based on a race

a racial minority

2 :existing or occurring between races

racial equality

—

racially

play \-shə-lē\ adverb

See racial defined for English-language learners

See racial defined for kids

Examples of racial in a Sentence

What is your racial identity?
There was racial tension on campus.

Recent Examples of racial from the Web

In the past, Flynn has said racial disparities are the result of the city’s demographics.

— jsonline.com, "Trust damaged between Milwaukee police and community, Department of Justice draft report says," 30 Aug. 2017
His extreme treatment of prisoners and detainees drew widespread condemnation and allegations of racial bias.

— matt ford, The Atlantic, "President Trump Pardons Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio," 25 Aug. 2017
Oberlin gets racial threats—specifically toward its black student population, but also its student of color population—almost every year.

— kate friedman, Glamour, "These 22 College Students Will Change Your Perspective on What It's Like to be a Young Woman in America Right Now," 23 Aug. 2017
Indeed, Obama's presidency brought into the open racial animosity that had been smoldering for decades.

— Howard County Times, "Racial divisions, animosity remain on full display [Letter]," 17 Aug. 2017
If there was ever a time for white people to put their bodies on the line for racial justice, the time is now.

— TIME.com, "Afterward.," 17 Aug. 2017
Mayor Michael Signer said he was disgusted that the white nationalists had come to his town and blamed Trump for inflaming racial prejudices with his campaign last year.

— jonathan lemire, chicagotribune.com, "Trump blames 'many sides' after violent white supremacist rally in Virginia," 12 Aug. 2017
The national atmosphere was fraught with racial tension.

— joy lanzendorfer, Smithsonian, "Hollywood Loved Sammy Davis Jr Until He Dated a White Movie Star," 9 Aug. 2017
The obviously more inclusive message is that wounded Democrats want to unify their constituencies — rather than continue with divisive racial, gender, and ethnic arguments — in order to win back the suffering middle classes.

— victor davis hanson, National Review, "The Problem of Competitive Victimhood," 3 Aug. 2017

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

First Known Use of racial

1854

racial Synonyms

Synonyms

ethnic, ethnical, tribal

Antonyms

nonracial

Related Words

familial; folk; kin, kindred; cultural, multiculti, multicultural, national

Other Sociology Terms

bourgeois, ethos, eugenics, exurb, incommunicado, intelligentsia, megalopolis, metrosexual, mores, subculture

RACIAL Defined for English Language Learners

racial

adjective

Definition of racial for English Language Learners

: relating to or based on race
: existing or happening between people of different races

RACIAL Defined for Kids

racial

adjective ra·cial \ ˈrā-shəl \

Definition of racial for Students

:of, relating to, or based on race

a racial group

—

racially

adverb

Medical Dictionary

racial

adjective ra·cial \ ˈrā-shəl \

medical Definition of racial

:of, relating to, or based on a race

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Examples of racial in a Sentence

Recent Examples of racial from the Web

First Known Use of racial

racial Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Other Sociology Terms

RACIAL Defined for English Language Learners

racial

Definition of racial for English Language Learners

RACIAL Defined for Kids

racial

Definition of racial for Students

racially

Medical Dictionary

racial

medical Definition of racial

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