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

In fact, Smith has long argued that the NFL has overlooked Black candidates at those positions because of racial bias. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 2 July 2026

The crew and the two witnesses said one of the three men got out with a dog and then moved aggressively towards the crew while shouting racial slurs targeted at the photographer. — Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 2 July 2026

Thomas, 34, said that in the aftermath of the game she and her family have been threatened and that she has been called racial slurs. — Henderson Hewes, ABC News, 1 July 2026

Her death at the hands of rampaging cops helped ignite the nation’s racial reckoning in 2020. — Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 1 July 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