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.
These intimidation tactics were heavily deployed during different waves of racial justice riots throughout American history, such as the uprisings over Rodney King’s beating in 1991 and George Floyd’s death in 2020. Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 22 Sep. 2025 Our faith is political, geographic, racial, ethnic divide. Jason Lemon, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Sep. 2025 Since then, celebrities like author JK Rowling, comedian David Chappelle and then-NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick have been targeted because of their views on transgender issues or racial equality. Michael Collins, USA Today, 20 Sep. 2025 In contrast with the preceding formations, which had been as diverse as the United States itself, nearly all the Green Berets were tall, square-jawed, and white, a reflection of the Special Forces’ insular, misogynistic culture and homogenous racial composition. Seth Harp, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 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 22 Sep. 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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