Definition of racismnext
1
as in segregation
the belief that certain races of people are by birth and nature superior to others Hitler's declaration of his belief in a "master race" provided irrefutable proof to the world of the inherent and dangerous racism of the Nazi movement

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2
as in prejudice
hatred of or discrimination against a person or persons based on their race the 1963 bombing of the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama, was one of the most deplorable incidents of racism that occurred during the civil rights movement of the 1960s

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for racism
Noun
  • Many of the march’s leaders and participants were later imprisoned in the Women’s Jail, where activists were held separately according to their race, as apartheid enforced segregation everywhere in South Africa.
    Michelle Gumede, Los Angeles Times, 10 Aug. 2026
  • The history of redlining, segregation and the lack of generational wealth shows how decisions made by the founding fathers created the landscape that exists for Black people in present day.
    Darcel Rockett, Chicago Tribune, 6 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The lawsuit was dismissed Monday without prejudice, meaning the case may be filed again.
    Riley Moser, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2026
  • But Pirro’s office moved on July 31 to dismiss the felony case without prejudice after the Interior Department produced additional documents.
    Kaelan Deese, The Washington Examiner, 11 Aug. 2026
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.

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Racism.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/racism. Accessed 12 Aug. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on racism

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster