racial

adjective

ra·​cial ˈrā-shəl How to pronounce racial (audio)
Synonyms of racialnext
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 How to pronounce racial (audio)
adverb
see also:
racial group

Synonyms of racial

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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.
In the complaint, Boltinhouse acknowledged that years-old social media posts resurfaced after her June victory, including posts containing a racial slur and others expressing conservative political views. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026 Some users have reported inaccuracies, and some experts have expressed caution about the reliability of facial age estimation tools, especially for women or certain racial or ethnic groups. — Barbara Ortutay, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2026 No serious person is that concerned about the racial breakdown of the people breaking down NFL games. — Bobby Burack Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 Sep. 2026 Bernadette explains the racial nuances the Guardians might not know as newcomers to Earth, echoing the landmark 1971 Green Lantern/Green Arrow comic series, which attempts to bring the space cops down to Earth by exposing them to racial strife. — Siddhant Adlakha, Vulture, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for racial

Word History

Etymology

race entry 1 + -ial

First Known Use

1853, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of racial was in 1853

Phrases Containing racial

Rhymes for racial

See All Rhymes for racial

Browse Nearby Words

Rachycentron
racial
racial group
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Racial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/racial. Accessed 3 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

racial

adjective
ra·​cial ˈrā-shəl How to pronounce racial (audio)
: of, relating to, or based on race
racially
-shə-lē How to pronounce racial (audio)
adverb

Medical Definition

racial

adjective
ra·​cial ˈrā-shəl How to pronounce racial (audio)
: of, relating to, or based on a race
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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