racist

1 of 2

adjective

rac·ist ˈrā-sist

also -shist

Synonyms of racist next

: of, relating to, or characterized by racism: such as

: having, reflecting, or fostering the belief that race (see race entry 1 sense 1a) is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

racist speech

racist views

a racist person

Over the last three years, there have been episodes of racist graffiti, jokes, anonymous hate notes or brawls at 175 campuses …—

Joseph Berger

The viciousness her liaison with Lennon inspired was virulently sexist, openly racist, and as ugly as ugly gets.—

Esquire

Racist violence against Romani in eastern Europe is reminiscent of pogroms against the Jews in the Tsarist Empire.—

Donald Kenrick

: of, relating to, or characterized by the systemic oppression of a racial group to the social, economic, and political advantage of another

racist laws/policies

a racist society

In contrast, people of color in a racist system always face headwinds.—

Claire Gillespie

The History and Dictionary Meanings of Racism and Racist: Usage Guide

Racism and racist appear to be words of recent origin, with no citations currently known that would suggest these words were in use prior to the early 20th century. But the fact that the words are fairly new does not prove that the concept of racism did not exist in the distant past. Things may have words to describe them before they exist (spaceship, for instance, has been in use since the 19th century, well before the rocket-fired vessels were invented), and things may exist for a considerable time before they are given names (T-shirt does not appear in print until the 20th century, although the article of clothing existed prior to 1900). Dictionaries are often treated as the final arbiter in arguments over a word's meaning, but they are not always well suited for settling disputes. The lexicographer's role is to explain how words are (or have been) actually used, not how some may feel that they should be used, and they say nothing about the intrinsic nature of the thing named or described by a word, much less the significance it may have for individuals. When discussing concepts like racism, therefore, it is prudent to recognize that quoting from a dictionary is unlikely to either mollify or persuade the person with whom one is arguing.

racist

2 of 2

noun

plural racists

: a person who is racist : someone who holds the belief that race (see race entry 1 sense 1a) is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race

… anonymous racists, misogynists and bullies sowing … hatred and violence.—

Andrew Keen

Examples of racist in a Sentence

Noun a racist facing hate crime charges

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.

Adjective

Some years ago, my uncle, having never met my then-boyfriend, made a series of racist jokes about him. —

Judith Martin, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 Since then, he's had no shortage of controversies that have rattled Republican leadership, including a history of posting racist memes on social media and pleading guilty to operating a vehicle while intoxicated and leaving the crash scene. —

Kayla Dwyer, The Indianapolis Star, 6 Nov. 2024

Noun

Another racist and anti-Semitic video about Jewish women and Black men—clearly AI-generated—has more than 306,000 views. —

Charlie Warzel, The Atlantic, 5 Nov. 2024 The 2022 audio leak upended City Hall, with community leaders voicing outrage over the racist and disparaging remarks on the hourlong recording. —

David Zahniser, Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for racist