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

Wolfe’s subject was a clash of classes; the Goetz shooting was a racial confrontation among ordinary New Yorkers. —Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026

Jonah has a bit of racial obsession. —Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 12 Jan. 2026

The office was credited with helping prevent another riot in 1993, as racial tensions re-emerged following the second trial of police who beat Rodney King in California. —Scott MacFarlane, CBS News, 11 Jan. 2026

The challengers compared Hawaii’s law, which was enacted a year later, to states that resisted the Supreme Court’s 1954 landmark decision outlawing racial segregation in schools. —Zach Schonfeld, The Hill, 11 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

race entry 1 + -ial

First Known Use

1854, 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