interracial

American  

[in-ter-rey-shuhl] / ˌɪn tərˈreɪ ʃəl /

adjective

1. of, involving, or for members of different racial groups.

   interracial amity.

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interracial British  

/ ˌɪntəˈreɪʃəl /

adjective

1. conducted, involving, or existing between different races or ethnic groups

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• interracially
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of interracial

First recorded in 1885–90; inter- + racial

Explanation

The adjective interracial describes something that involves different ethnic groups. The word interracial is a tricky one, since there's no real agreement about what constitutes a race. It essentially goes back to ancient genetic connections that link a group of people together and often give them common physical characteristics. Interracial marriage is when people of different races wed — something that’s incredibly common today, but was once illegal in the United States.

Example Sentences

Father Leahy’s plan was for St. Benedict’s to be a “small, interracial school,” designed to address “the educational problems of our time,” that was “not going to shovel everyone into college.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 2, 2026

Now, even the protections that allowed an interracial couple like us to marry in the first place — Loving v.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 17, 2025

In 1967, the Supreme Court declared interracial marriage legal nationwide.

From Salon • Aug. 4, 2025

What would happen if, for example, the parents in Mahmoud took issue with the fact that Uncle Bobby’s Wedding appears to portray an interracial wedding?

From Slate • Jul. 9, 2025

C.P. put away his concerns from the night before and concentrated on leading a group discussion of interracial violence, the subject he had broached on Monday night.

From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson

Related Words

• multicultural