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

see also:

racial group

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 June, students spoke up at a district board meeting, claiming that racial slurs had become more commonplace on campus, the Independent reported. — Terry Castleman follow, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Her often chatty, sometimes dishy articles were a respite from the serious news items and editorials in the Black press, mostly about the fight for racial justice. — Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026

Because of the lingering effects of Jim Crow laws and racial discrimination, however, many Black women were still denied the franchise. — Christopher A. Cooper, The Conversation, 1 Oct. 2026

The third motion consisted of the legal case itself, alleging that four of the Fearless Fund’s six companies engaged in racial discrimination. — Arian Simone, Fortune, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

race entry 1 + -ial

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing racial

• post-racial
• racial group

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