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racial

adjective

ra·​cial ˈrā-shəl How to pronounce racial (audio)
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.
Nor was it lost on them that even the most self-consciously liberal and cosmopolitan of modern Western writers and philosophers affirmed racial hierarchies. Victor J. Blue, Harpers Magazine, 23 Nov. 2025 But enlisting local law enforcement agents to identify undocumented immigrants has, in the past, led to racial profiling and the removal of suspects who were charged with – but not convicted of – crimes, Graber said. Rick Jervis, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025 The state claims the maps were drawn as a partisan gerrymander, which is lawful, rather than a racial gerrymander, as the new map was slated to give Republicans five additional seats in the House of Representatives. Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 22 Nov. 2025 That person also released a recording of McFadden using racial slurs to refer to a White captain and a Black former chief deputy, CNN affiliate WBTV reported. Lauren Mascarenhas, CNN Money, 22 Nov. 2025 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 28 Nov. 2025.

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

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